GIFT  OF 


U.   S.  D.  A.          YBAP300K 


HEW    FRUITS. 


*)X^a 


1901 1913 


VIII. 


T 


•:U 


CONTENTS 


YEARS  PAGES 

1901  ..............................  1 

1902  ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••  -*-' 

1903  ................  .  .............  33 

1904  ................  .  .............  49 

1905  ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••  o  9 

1906  •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

1907  ••••••• 

1908  ••••••• 


1909  .  •  ........  •  .....  •  .  •  •  .....  •  •  •  •  •     149 

1910  ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••   J.oo 

1911  ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••  lol 

1912  •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

1913 


aoex 
voei 
eoei 
ecei 
oxei 


INDEX 


Year.     Page 

ALMOND 

Jordan 1902       31 

APPIE 

Aken ,  see  Akin  .............. 

Aikin,  see  Akin 
Aikiris  Bed,  see  Akin 

Akin,   1903       38 

Akin  Seedling,  see  Akin 
Akins  Seedling,  see  Akin 
All-Over  Bed,  see  Oliver 
American  Mother,  see  Mother 
American  Nonpareil  (Mease  and 

Thatcher) ,  see  Doctor 
Banana,   .....................  1913      226 

Bauragardner,  see  Monocacy 
Bentley's  Seedling,  see  Bloom- 
field, 

Bennett,   1908      133 

Bennett  Seedling, see  Bennett 
Bill  Baumgardner,see  Monocacy 

Bloomfield,  1904       51 

Bloomfield  Bentley,  see 

Bloomfield 
Bounty,  see  Summer  King 

Carson,  1905       74 

Coffman,  1909      155 

Cornell,  1911      185 

Cornell's  Fancy,  see  Cornell 
Cornell's  Favorite, see  Cornell 

Delicious,  1907      113 

Dewitt,  see  Doctor 

Dixie,  see  Lowry 

Doctor,  ••••••••••••••••••••••  1904       52 

Doctor  Dewitt,  see  Doctor 
Duchess  No.  3,  see  Patten 
Early  Williams,  see  Williams 

Eastman, 1912      204 

Ensee, 1907      115 


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Year     Page 
APPLE  (continued) 

Fameuse  No.l,  see  Eastman 
Fameuse  Seedling,  see  Eastman 
Flory,  see  Banana 
Flory  Banana,  see  Banana 

Gardner's  Apple,  see  Mother 

Hastings,  see  Opalescent 
Hoop,  see  Llonocacy 
Hudson's  Pride  of  Michigan, 
see  Opalescent 

Ingraham,  see  Ingram 

Ingram, . ...  1901        6 

Ingram  Seedling,  see  Ingram 

Kentucky  Summer  Queen,  see 

Summer  King. 
Kinnaird,  see  Kinnard 
Kinnaird's  Choice,  see  Kinnard 

Kinnard,  1910      171 

Kofftaan  June,  see  Coffman 

Ladies,  see  Williams 

Lowry, 1910      170 

Lowry  Seedling,  see  Lowry 

Magnate,  . ... , 1906       93 

Magnet  (Partly),  see  Magnate 

McCroskey, 1913      227 

Mclntosh,  1901        7 

Mclntosh  Red,  see  Mclntosh 
L'-issoula,  see  Shiawassee 

Monocacy,  ••• 1912      205 

^"osby's  Best,  see  Lowry 
Mosby's  Best  Bed  Winter,  see 
Lowry 

Mother 1909      154 

:.!rs.  Bryan,  see  San  Jacinto 

Newby,  see  Doctor 


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.,,..„.,  ...... 


•  Y^so  . 


Year     Page 
APPLE 

Oliver,  see  Oliver  Bed 

Oliver  Bed,  1906      95 

Oliver's  Bed,  see  Oliver  Bed 

Opalescent,  1913      229 

Patten 1908      132 

Patten's  Duchess  ITo.  3,  see 

Patten 

Patten's  Fameuse,   see  Eastman 
Patten's  Greening,   see  Patten 

Queen  Anne,  see  Mother 
Queen,  see  Williams 

Babun, 1906      97 

Babun  Bald,  see  Babun 

Bandolph,  1902      24 

Bed  Doctor,  see  Doctor 

San  Jaeinto, 1911     187 

Senator,  see  Oliver  Bed 

Shiawassee,  1911      188 

Shiawassee  Beauty,  see 

Shiav;assee 
Smith,  see  Monocacy 
Stayman,  see  Stayman  Winesap 

Stayman  Winesap, 1902      22 

Stayman' s  No*  1  (Partly),  see 

Magnate 
Stayman fs  No.  2  (Partly) ,  see 

Magnate 

Stayman's  Superior,  see  Magnate 
Stayman' s  Winesap,  see  Stayman 

Wine sap 

Stunner  King, 1912  208 

Summer  Bed,  see  Coffraan 

Terry, 1903      40 

Terry's  Winter,  see  Terry 

Terry  Winter,  see  Terry 

Terry  Winter  Pippin,  see  Terry 

Unknown,  see  Bandolph 


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APPLES  (continued)  Year      Page 

Virginia  Beauty,  . 1905       73 

Williams 1908      134 

Williams  Early,  see  Williams 
Williams  Early  Bed,  see 

Williams 

Williams  Favorite,  see  Williams 
Williams  Favorite  Bed,  see 

Williams 
Winter  Banana,  see  Banana 


AVOCADO 

Chappelow,  1906  101 

Family, 1910  175 

Pollock,  1912  214 

Trapp,  1905  36 


CHERRY 

Lambert, 1907      115 


CHESTNUT 

Boone, 1913      238 


CURRANT 

Diploma, 1909  156 

I£oorefs  180,  see  Diploma 

Perfection, 1904       56 


FRUIT  DISTRICTS, 

Devel opment  of, 131 


GOOSEBERRY 

Carrie,  1909      157 


GRAPES 

Banner, 1906       99 

Charles  Downing,  see  Dawning 

Downing, 1901       12 


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GRAPES  (continued)          f     Year      Page 
Ezereves  Magyarorszag  Eraleke, 
see  Millennial 

Flowers, 1913       233 

Headlight,  1903       46 

Hungarian  Millennium,  see 
Millennial 

James,  1913       234 

Millennial,  1904       55 

Panariti 1911      195 

Ricketts  No.  1,  see  Downing 


LOQUAT 

Advance, 1901       15 

Eulalia,  1905       81 


MANGO 

Cecil, 1910      176 

Mulgoba,  1901       13 

Peters,  1908      138 

Peters  No.  1,  see  Peters 

Sander sha, 1907      122 

Sander shaw,  see  Sander sha 
Soondershaw,  see  Sandersha 
Sundershaw,  see  Sandersha 


ORANGE 

Dugat, 1910  174 

King 1907  119 

King  of  Siam,  see  King 

Lue, 1913      237 

Lue  Ginn  Gong,  see  Lue 
Thompson,  see  Thomson 
Thompson's  Improved,  see 

Thomson 
Thompson's  Improved  Navel,  see 

Thomson 

Thomson, 1911      198 

Thomson's  Improved  Navel,  see 

Thomson 
Thomson's  Navel,  see  Thomson 


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Year       Page 
PEACH 

Augbert,  .....................  1908      135 

Belle,  .......................  1902       27 

Belle  of  Georgia,  see  Belle 

Carman,  ..............  .  ......  .  1901        9 

Champion,  ....................  1908       136 

Early  Belle,  see  Hiley 

Early  Wheeler,  ............  ...  1906       98 

Early  7/heeler  Cling,  see  Early 

Wheeler, 
Everbearing,  .....  .  ...........  1905       76 

Georgia,  see  Belle 

Hieley,  see  Hiley 

Highland  Beauty,  see  Payne 

Hiley,  .......................  1903       41 

Lizzie,  .......  .  .....  .  .......  .  1913       230 

Payne,  .......................  1910      172 

Pride  of  Texas,  see  Carman 


-:  usse  J.1  ,  ••••••••••••••«••«•••  1911       191 

Bussell  No.  1,  see  Bussell 

Welch,  .......................  1903       42 

Wheeler  Cling,  see  Early  Wheeler 

Willett,  .....  .  ...............  1902       28 

Willett's  Seedling,  see  Willett 


PEAB 

Ayer ,  ••••••••«•*•••••••••••••  1911       190 

Crocker, . ....  1905        75 

Crocker  Bartlett,  see  Crocker 

Philopena, 1902 

Bossney, • 1904        54 


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Year       Page 
PECAN 

Admiral  Schley,  see  Schley 

Alley 1906      104 

Batey's  Perfection,  see  Mobile 

Bolton,   •••••••••••••••••••••  1908       146 

Bourgeois,  see  Van  Deman 

Bradley,  •••••••••••••••••••••  1909      161 

Burkett,  • •  1912      215 

Carman,  1908      147 

Castanera,  see  Stuart 

Centennial, 1904       59 

Century,  see  Pome 

Claremont, 1909      162 

Columbia,  see  Pome 
Columbian,  see  Borne 

Curtis,  1906      106 

Curtis  No.  2,  see  Curtis 


*  • ., 


Daisy,  1909      163 

Delmas, 1906      107 

Durainie  Mire,  see  Van  Deman 
Duplicate  Frotscher,  see  Teche 

Eggshell,  see  Frotscher 

ielect  (Parti-)  i-,e*  Post 
Fake  Frotscher,  see  Teche 

Frotscher, 1904       60 

Frotscher  No.  2,  see  Teche 
Frotscher fs  Eggshell,  see 
Frotscher 

Georgia 1906      107 

Georgia  Belle,  see  Hollis 
Georgia  Giant,  see  Georgia 

Halbert, 1909  162 

Havens, 1912  219 

Hodge,  1908  145 

Hollis,  1905  83 

Hollis's  Jumbo,  see  Hollis 

Jewett 1904       61 

Jumbo,  see  Hollis 


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Year  Page 
PECANS 

Kennedy, 1908  144 

Kincaid,  1907  126 

Labadie,  see  Burkett 
Laurendine,  see  Mobile 

Majestic,  see  Frotscher 

Major 1912      217 

Mammoth,  see  Borne 

Mantura, 1907      127 

Mere,  see  Van  Deman 
Meyer,  see  Van  Deman 

Mobile,  1909       163 

Moneymaker ,  ..................  1905       84 

Oliver,  see  Frotscher 

Owens,  1912       217 

Pabst,    1904  62 

Paper shell,  see  San  Saba 
Paragon,    (Partly)    see  Van 

Deman 

Post,    1904  63 

Post's  Select   (Partly)    see 

Hollis 
Post's  Select   (Partly)    see  Post 

President,    1907  124 

President  Boosevelt,   see  Pre- 
sident 
Pride  of  the  Coast,   see  Borne 

Bisien,  see  Hollis 
Bisien's  Paper  Shell,  see  San 
Saba 

Borne 1904  63 

Boyal,  see  San  Saba 

Bussell,  1904       64 


*  • 


San  Saba, 1904       65 

Schley,  1905       85 

Southern  Beauty,  see  Van 

Deman 
Southern  Giant,   see  Borne 

Sovereign, 1907      125 

Spurious  Frotscher,  see  Teche 

Stuart, 1904       66 

Success, 1905       85 


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Year  Page 
PECAN 

Taylor,  1908  143 

Teche,  1906  Io5 

Texas  Prolific,  see  Sovereign 
Tv/entieth  Century,  see  Borne 

Van  Deman,  ••...... 1904       67 

Warrick,  1912  219 

Wolford, 1907  123 

Young, 1905       86 


PEBSB3MON 

American  Honey,  see  Josephine, 

Bastrom,  see  Ormond 

Delmas,  ......................  1904       56 

Honey,  see  Josephine 

Josephine,  •• •••.. 1906      100 

Kawakami,  . 1908      140 

Little's  Buby,  see  Buby 

Lonestar, 1908      141 

Miller 1907      117 

Ormond, 1912      212 

Ormond  Winter,  see  Ormond 

Buby,  1907       118 

Tamopan, 1910      177 

Triumph, 1913       235 

Yining's  Winter,  see  Ormond 


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Year       Page 
PLUM 

Brittlewood,  1902       29 

Brittlewood  No.  1,  see  Brittle- 
Wood 

Damson  Type,  1905  79 

Biley, 1905  80 

Scioto, 1905  80 

Pringle,  1905  81 

Gold,  see  Golden 

Golden, 1905       78 

Hytankayo,  see  Bed  June 

Laire,  1911      192 

Honcelt, 1911      194 

Nagate  no  Botank^o  ,  see  Bed 
June 

Perfection,  see  T"ickson 

Bed  June,  ••••••*••••••«••••••  1901       10 

Bed  Nagate,  see  Bed  June 

Shiro  Sinomo,  see  Bed  June 

Stoddard,  1902       30 

Wickson,  1901       11 

PRUNE 

Splendor , 1903       44 

Sugar, 1903       45 


RASPBERRY 

Eaton, 1908  137 

Hoosier,  1910  173 

Winfield,  1909  158 


BOSELIE 

Victor,  1909      159 


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STBA\7BERBY  Year  Page 

Cardinal,   .....  .............  1903  47 


Chesapeake, 


'. 


LITTLE-KNOWN  FRUIT  VARIETIES  CONSIDERED 
WORTHY  OF  WIDER  DISSEMINATION. 


BY 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist,  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[REPRINT  FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOB  1901.] 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Introduction 381 

Ingrain  apple 382 

Mclntosh  apple 383 

Carman  peach 385 

.Red  June  plum 386 

Wickson  plum 387 

Downing  grape 388 

Mulgoba  mango 389 

Advance  loquat 391 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PLATE  XLVL  Ingram  apple 382 

XLVII.  Mclntosh  apple 384 

XLVIII.  Carman  peach 385 

XLIX.  Wickson  and  Eed  June  plums 386 

L.  Downinggrape 388 

LI.  Mulgoba  mango 389 

LH.  Advance  loquat 392 

iii 


LITTLE-KNOWN   FRUIT  VARIETIES  CONSIDERED 
WORTHY  OF  WIDER  DISSEMINATION. 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist,  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

In  the  introduction  and  dissemination  of  new  fruits  by  commercial 
I  methods  there  is  always  danger  that  new  varieties  will  be  too  largely 
planted  in  regions  to  which  they  are  not  adapted.  Planters  who  learn 
of  the  remarkable  success  of  a  new  sort  in  a  remote  section  are  inclined 
Ito  plant  it  largely  without  sufficient  investigation  of  its  characteristics 
(and  requirements.  This  not  infrequently  brings  upon  them  unneces- 
iry  financial  loss. 

With  the  present  methods  of  illustrated  advertising,  the  danger  of 
[inconsiderate  planting  is  probably  greater  than  in  earlier  days.  Until 
nnparatively  recent  times,  the  varieties  of  tree  and  vine  fruits  intro- 
luced  from  year  to  year  were  chiefly  chance  seedlings  that  had  estab- 
lished their  worth  in  the  localities  where  they  originated  by  a  record 
>f  many  years  of  production  in  comparison  with  the  other  sorts  grown 
the  same  localities.  Records  of  a  quarter  of  a  centuiy  or  more  of 
•uitfulness  are  not  infrequent  in  the  histories  of  many  of  our  stand- 
ird  varieties  before  they  were  accorded  any  special  notice  or  propa- 
ited  for  dissemination  in  a  commercial  way.  During  these  years  of 
il  the  changing  seasons,  with  their  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  rain- 
ill  and  drought,  brought  to  light  such  defects  and  weaknesses  as 
>xi>ted  in  a  variety,  and  the  inferior  sorts  being  weeded  out  in  advance 
>f  general  dissemination,  future  disappointment  and  loss  were,  no 
loubt,  to  a  very  considerable  extent  prevented. 

Only  a  few  of  the  thousands  of  the  varieties  that  have  been  described 
md  disseminated  in  America  during  the  past  centuiy  have  survived 
ind  are  now  esteemed  worthy  of  planting.  At  present,  and  with 
increasing  frequency,  varieties  of  many  of  the  tree  fruits  are  intro- 
luced  within  a  few  years  after  the  first  fruiting  of  the  original  trees, 
md  necessarily,  therefore,  before  the  characteristic  features  are  well 
mown,  even  in  the  original  localit\T.  The  risk  of  failure  with  such 
>rts  is  proportionately  great,  particularly  in  sections  possessing  dif- 
ferent soil  and  climate,  or  where  the  market  requirements  are  radically 

381 


6 

382         YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT  OF   AGRICULTURE. 

different.  The  orchardist  should,  in  general,  therefore,  be  cautious  in 
planting  comparatively  untried  sorts.  He  should  proceed  in  an  experi- 
mental way,  investigating  as  thoroughly  as  possible  the  requirements 
and  characteristics  of  any  sort  unknown  in  his  locality  before  planting 
it  on  a  commercial  scale.  A  few  of  the  little-known  fruit  varieties, 
selected  from  a  large  number  introduced  in  recent  years,  are  described 
and  illustrated  in  this  paper  with  a  view  to  furnishing  detailed  infor- 
mation to  growers  who  desire  to  undertake  a  trial  of  sorts  that  have 
demonstrated  their  usefulness  and  value  to  an  extent  that  warrants 
their  wide  dissemination  and  testing  in  climatic  regions  similar  to  those 
in  which  they  have  already  been  grown. 

INGRAM   APPLE. 

(SYNONYMS:  Ingram  Seedling;  Ingraham.) 

[PLATE  XLVI.] 

During  the  past  five  years  this  apple,  which  has  long  been  grown  in 
certain  localities  in  Missouri,  has  attracted  marked  attention  as  a 
variety  well  adapted  to  planting  in  commercial  orchards  in  that  and 
neighboring  States.  Combining,  as  it  does,  the  desirable  characteris- 
tics of  the  old  Rails  (variously  known  in  the  Middle  and  Southern 
States  under  the  synonyms  Rawles  Genet,  Rawles  Janet,  Genvton, 
Never/ail,  and  some  twenty -five  others),  with  larger  size  and  brighter 
color  than  that  well-known  sort,  it  appears  to  have  been  first 
described  and  illustrated  under  the  name  Ingram  Seedling  in  the 
Journal  of  Agriculture,  published  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  somewhat 
later,  in  1868,  in  the  Horticulturist,  Vol.  XXIII,  p.  201. 

According  to  various  accounts,  the  variety  originated 'from  the  plant- 
ing of  seeds  of  the  u  Rails,"  by  Mr.  Martin  Ingram,  or  his  son  Jack,  6 
miles  east  of  Springfield,  Mo.,  about  1850  or  1855.  Several  trees  were 
grown  from  the  same  lot  of  .seed,  and  when  they  came  into  bearing  the 
fruit  was  so  hard  that  it  was  considered  worthless.  All  were  destroyed 
except  one  which  had  belonged  to  the  boy  Jack,  who  had  then  left  home 
for  the  West.  In  the  spring  of  1862,  when  apples  were  scarce  in  the 
locality,  several  specimens  were  found  under  the  tree  in  sound  con- 
dition. They  were  not  yet  in  eating  condition,  but  when  ripe,  later  in 
the  spring,  were  of  excellent  flavor.  The  variety  became  locally  known 
as  "Little  Jack,"  and  was  gradually  planted  throughout  the  neighbor- 
hood because  of  its  productiveness  and  long-keeping  qualities.  Later 
it  gained  wide  popularity,  especially  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  until 
it  is  now  being  largely  planted  in  commercial  orchards,  especially  in 
the  former  State,  where  one  orchard  as  large  as  240  acres  is  solidly  set 
with  it.  The  specimen  shown  in  PI.  XLVI  was  furnished  by  Mr.  L.  A. 
Goodman,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  secretary  of  the  Missouri  State  Horti- 
cultural Societv. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1901 


PLATE  XLVI. 


INGRAM  APPLE 


LITTLE-KNOWN    FRUIT    VARIETIES.  3  S3 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish  conical:  size  medium;  surface  smooth,  pale  yellow, 
washed  with  red.  splashed  and  striped  with  crimson  and  overspread 
with  gmy  toward  the  base,  often  covered  with  thin  lilac  bloom:  dots 
irray.  some  with  dark  centers  and  often  slightly  indented  toward  apex; 
cavity  regular,  of  medium  size  and  depth  and  gradual  slope,  distinctly 
>triped:  stein  rather  short  and  stout:  basin  of  medium  size  and  slope 
and  depth,  slightly  leather-cracked:  calyx  segments  medium,  reflexed 
at  tip.  eye  closed  or  partially  open,  skin  thick,  tough,  tenacious:  core 
oval,  of  medium  size,  nearly  closed,  meeting  the  eye:  seeds  numer- 
ous, of  medium  size,  angular,  brown:  flesh  yellowish,  tine  grained. 
hard  until  fully  ripe,  then  tender  and  juicy:  flavor  subacid:  quality 
good  to  very  good:  season  April  to  June  in  cellar  storage  in  Missouri, 
but  has  been  kept  two  years  in  this  way. 

The  tree  i>  an  upright  grower,  hardy,  blooming  late,  bearing  regu- 
lar, large  crops.  Its  only  defect  appears  to  be  its  tendency  to  over- 
bear, thus  reducing  the  size  of  the  fruit. 

This  variety  is  considered  worthy  of  systematic  testing  throughout 
the  South,  especially  in  the  mountain  regions,  where  its  parent.  "  Rails." 
i>  '»ne  of  the  most  reliable  of  the  long-keeping  apples,  both  for  home 

3    and  for  market. 

M'INTOSH  APPLE. 
(SYNONYM:  Mclntofh  Bed,) 

[PLATE  XLVIL] 

Among  the  winter  apples  of  Northern  origin  that  are  as  yet  but 
little  known  to  commercial  growers,  perhaps  none  shows  a  wider 
adaptability  to  diverse  conditions  or  gives  larger  promise  of  success  in 
the  representative  apple-growing  regions  than  the  Melntosh.  Unlike 
many  of  the  recently  introduced  varieties,  it  has  not  been  widely 
advertised  nor  pushed  by  nurserymen,  but  it  has  steadily  made  its  way 
through  its  intrinsic  merit,  and  is  now  grown,  to  a  limited  extent,  in 
many  Statos.  The  original  tree  of  this  varietv  was  discovered  and 
saved,  with  several  other  seedlings  of  about  10  or  15  years  old.  by 
the  late  John  Mclntosh.  in  clearing  away  second-growth  timber  for 
a  building  place  on  his  farm  in  Matilda  Township,  in  the  present 
village  of  Dundela,  Ontario.  Canada,  about  1798.  This  original  tree, 
though  seriously  injured  by  the  burning  of  the  homestead  near  it 
some  years  ago.  Ls  still  standing,  and  is,  therefore,  more  than  a  cen- 
tury old.  The  variety  was  not  propagated  in  a  nursery  until  1s  7. 
when  the  son  of  the  discoverer  began  its  propagation  in  his  nursery. 
It  does  not  appear  to  have  reached  the  United  States  until  after  1  ^  ~ 

Charles  Downing  described  it  under  the  name  "Mclutosh  Red." 
in  the  second  appendix  to  the  second  revised  edition  of  "Fruits  and 
fruit  trees  of  America,"  published  in  -  9  ua  good,  annual  bearer 


384         YEAKBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

of  fair,  handsome  fruit  of  excellent  quality,  and  valuable  for  home 
use  and  market."  It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  he  had  fruited 
the  variety  himsejf  at  that  time.  Since  that  date  it  has  gradually 
spread  through  the  nurseries  of  Canada  and  the  United  States,  fre- 
quently under  the  names  of  other  varieties,  until  within  the  past  five 
years  its  adaptability  to  general  planting  has  become  more  generally 
recognized. 

In  addition  to  the  vigor  and  hardiness  of  the  tree,  it  combines  the 
important  requisites  of  good  size,  beautiful  color,  and  fine  quality  of 
fruit.  At  the  same  time  it  is  sufficiently  productive  to  render  it 
profitable  to  the  commercial  grower.  It  is  somewhat  susceptible  to 
the  attacks  of  the  apple-scab  fungus,  but  probably  less  so  than  any 
other  widely  tested  variety  of  the  Fameuse  group.  The  fruit  keeps 
until  midwinter  in  the  North  in  cellars,  and,  so  far  as  tested,  endures 
excellently  in  refrigerated  storage.  The  specimen  shown  on  PI. 
XLVII  was  grown  in  the  orchard  of  the  New  York  State  Agricultural 
Experiment  Station  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  and  is  fairly  representative  of 
the  variety  as  received  at  the  Department  of  Agriculture  from  growers 
in  a  wide  range  of  territory.  Excellent  specimens  of  it  have  reached 
the  office  of  the  Pomologist,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  correspondence, 
from  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island, 
New  York,  Ohio,  West  Virginia,  Wisconsin,  Nebraska,  and  Montana, 
as  well  as  from  the  Province  of  Ontario,  in  Canada.  As  a  market  sort, 
it  is  considered  worthy  of  distinct  recognition  as  a  dessert  apple,  adapted 
to  the  requirements  of  the  fancy  fruit  trade  in  the  larger  cities,  ranking 
with  Jonathan,  Grimes,  Esopus,  and  Northern  Spy  in  this  respect.  As 
this  trade  requires  fruit  of  fine  quality,  free  from  blemishes  caused  by 
diseases  and  insects,  it  is  advised  that  planters  of  it  be  prepared  to 
spray  their  trees  thoroughly,  and  to  pick,  pack,  and  handle  their  fruit 
with  special  care  in  marketing.  It  appears  to  be  especially  adapted 
to  marketing  in  boxes  or  other  small  packages  in  retail  trade. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish,  sometimes  slightly  oblate;  size  medium  to  large; 
surface  smooth,  sometimes  slightty  russet  veined;  color  yellow,  washed 
over  most  of  the  fruit  with  light  crimson,  frequently  dashed  with 
broken  stripes  of  dark  crimson  and  covered  with  a  heavy  bloom,  which 
renders  the  ripening  fruit  very  conspicuous  on  the  tree;  dots  russeted, 
prominent,  of  variable  size;  cavity  regular,  deep,  flaring,  smooth; 
stem  short  to  medium,  downy,  stout,  fleshy  at  point  of  attachment  to 
twig;  basin  regular,  of  medium  size  and  depth,  slightly  furrowed; 
calyx  segments  medium,  reflexed;  eye  small,  closed;  skin  thin,  tough, 
tenacious;  core  of  medium  size,  roundish,  clasping,  open;  seeds  numer- 
ous, plump,  brown,  of  medium  size;  flesh  white,  often  slightly  stained 
with  light  red,  tender,  juicy;  flavor  subacid,  aromatic,  highly  esteemed 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dep-t.  of  Agriculture,  1901. 


PLATE  XLVII. 


Me  INTOSH  APPLE. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture    1901. 


PLATE  XLVIII. 


CARMAN  PEACH. 


LITTLE-KNOWN    FRUIT    VARIETIES.  385 

by  those  who  like  the  Fameuse  and  similar  varieties;  quality  good  to 
very  good;  season  December  to  February  in  cellar  storage  in  the 
North. 

Tree  vigorous,  with  spreading  head,  hardy,  long-lived,  an  annual 
bearer  of  good  crops  of  fair  and  handsome  fruit.  The  variety  appears 
to  be  adapted  to  the  conditions  of  the  Northern  States  wherever 
Fameuse  (synonym  Snow)  or  Baldwin  thrive,  and  to  succeed  much 
farther  west  and  south  than  either  of  those  sorts. 

CARMAN   PEACH. 

(SYNONYM:  Pride  of  Texas.) 

[PLATE  XLVIII.] 

Since  the  introduction  of  Elberta  (about  1880)  demonstrated  the 
commercial  value  of  the  Chinese  Cling  group  of  peaches  in  the  South, 
there  has  been  much  activity  among  nurseiymen  and  planters  in  the 
search  for  other  varieties  of  this  group  ripening  at  different  times, 
through  which  the  shipping  season  might  be  extended.  Numerous 
early  sorts  of  this  group  have  been  disseminated  during  the  past  six 
or  eight  years,  and  are  now  under  test  in  most  of  the  commercial 
peach  districts  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Among  these,  perhaps 
none  is  more  promising  from  the  standpoint  of  the  commercial  grower 
than  the  "Carman."  This  variety  originated  from  planted  seed  by 
Mr.  J.  W.  Stubenrauch,  of  Mexia,  Tex.,  in  1889.  The  tree  fruited 
tirst  in  1892,  and  attracted  attention  both  because  of  its  earliness 
and  its  freedom  from  rot,  a  disease  which  is  exceedingly  trouble- 
some on  early  varieties  in  that  section.  Mr.  Stubenrauch  at  once 
began  propagating  it  for  his  own  planting,  and  at  first  named  it  Pride 
of  Texas.  Later  he  changed  the  name  to  "Carman,"  under  which 
designation  it  was  described  in  the  Report  of  the  Pomologist  for  1894, 
p.  25.  The  description  then  published  was  based  upon  specimens 
grown  by  the  originator. 

DESCRIPTION. 

A  chance  seedling,  of  the  North  Chinese  type.  Size  large;  broad 
oval,  pointed,  somewhat  compressed;  suture  deep  near  cavity,  shallow 
toward  apex;  apex  fleshy,  protruding;  surface  rather  harsh;  down 
short,  persistent;  color  yellowish  white,  blushed  and  dotted  with  red; 
skin  thin,  not  close!}'  adherent;  stone  quite  large,  long,  oval,  pointed, 
free;  flesh  yellowish  white,  slightly  tinged  with  red  at  the  stone; 
flavor  sprightly,  vinous,  slightly  bitter;  season  middle  of  June,  in 
Limestone  County,  Tex. 

Tree  reported  to  be  productive,  and  fruit  entirely  free  from  rot; 
leaves  large,  with  reniform  glands;  blossoms  very  large. 

Since  1894  the  variety  has  fruited  in  Texas,  Georgia,  North  Caro- 
lina, West  Virginia,  Delaware,  Connecticut,  and  Michigan,  and  has 


10 

386        YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

demonstrated  its  usefulness  and  adaptability  to  conditions  in  all  of 
these  States.  It  ripens  somewhat  later  than  "Rivers,"  and  will 
probably  replace  that  sort  in  market  orchards,  as  it  is  of  firmer  texture 
and  much  more  resistant  to  rot. 

RED   JUNE    PLUM. 

(SYNONYMS:    Red   Nagate,    of   some;   Shiro  Smomo,  of   some;  Nagate  no  Botankyo, 

Hytankayo,  of  some). 

[PLATE  XLIX.j 

Among  the  more  newly  introduced  Japanese  plums  that  have  been 
sufficiently  tested  to  determine  their  commercial  value  in  diverse  loca- 
tions, perhaps  none  has  attained  to  the  rank  occupied  by  this  early 
sort.  According  to  Prof.  L.  H.  Baile}^,  it  was  introduced  from  Japan 
by  H.  H.  Berger  &  Co.  This  introduction  appears  to  have  been  under 
the  name  "  Shiro  Smomo"  and  occurred  about  1887.  It  was  also 
received  from  Japan  by  Dr.  J.  T.  Whitaker,  of  Tyler,  Tex.,  at  about 
the  same  time,  under  the  name  "Hytankayo,"  The  variety  does  not 
appear  to  have  attracted  special  attention  until  about  1892,  when  trees 
of  it,  obtained  under  the  name  "Shiro  Smoino,"  were  fruited  by  Stark 
Brothers,  at  Louisiana,  Mo.,  who  were  strongly  impressed  with  its 
value  as  a  commercial  sort.  They  at  once  propagated  it  extensively, 
and  introduced  it  under  the  name  "Red  June"  in  1893.  It  is  a  strongly 
marked  variety,  ripening  in  advance  of  Abundance,  and  enduring  well 
the  vicissitudes  of  commercial  transportation.  Though  not  of  high 
dessert  quality  in  the  fresh  state,  it  cooks  well  and  forms  an  excellent 
substitute  for  the  damson  when  canned  or  preserved.  The  specimen 
shown  on  PI.  XLIX  was  grown  by  Mr.  George  E.  Murrell,  at 
Fontella,  Va. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish  cordate,  conical,  often  unequal,  with  a  distinct  point; 
size  medium  or  slightly  above  medium;  surface  smooth,  glossy,  car- 
mine, deepening  to  dark  wine  red  when  fully  ripe,  and  covered  with  a 
bluish-white  bloom;  cavity  regular,  of  medium  size  and  slope;  stem 
of  medium  length,  rather  stout;  suture  usually  deep;  apex  prominent; 
skin  thick,  tenacious,  slightly  bitter;  stone  oval,  pointed,  of  medium 
size,  tightly  adherent  to  flesh;  flesh  yellowish,  translucent,  with 'yel- 
low veins;  rather  meaty,  though  tender  and  juicy;  flavor  subacid, 
pleasant;  quality  good. 

The  tree  is  an  upright,  spreading  grower,  vigorous  and  hardy,  pro- 
ducing well  in  most  plum-growing  sections,  though  blooming  very 
early  in  middle  and  southern  latitudes,  and,  therefore,  somewhat  subject 
to  frost  injury  in  spring.  It  is  probably  benefited  by  cross  pollina- 
tion, and  should  be  planted  with  such  varieties  as  Burbank,  Abun- 
dance, Chabot,  01  Satsuma,  which  Professor  Waugh,  of  the  Vermont 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Oept  of  Agriculture,  1901 


REDJUNE 


WlCKSON 


JUUUS8I£N»CO> 


WICKSON  AND  RED-JUNE  PLUMS. 


-Li 

LITTLE-KNOWN    FKUIT    VARIETIES.  387 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  has  found  to  cover  most  of  its  bloom- 
ing period.  The  variety  is  hardy  in  fruit  bud  when  dormant,  endur- 
ing low  winter  temperatures,  and  appears  to  be  promising  for  the 
commercial  planter  in  all  sections  where  earliness  and  resistance  to  rot 
are  important. 

WICKSOX  PLUM. 

( SYNONYM  :  Perfection. ) 

[PLATE  XLIX.] 

This  variety,  one  of  the  first  valuable  sorts  of  the  Japanese  type 
originated  in  this  country,  was  grown  by  Mr.  Luther  Burbank,  of  Santa 
Rosa.  Cal.,  from  a  seed  of  Kelsey.  The  first  specimens  of  this  variety 
received  at  the  Department  of  Agriculture  were  furnished  b}T  Mr.  Bur- 
bank  under  the  provisional  name  "*  Perfection"  in  August,  1892,  with  the 
statement  that  the  original  tree  was  grown  from  "Kelsey  seed  crossed 
with  Burbank  pollen."  The  variety  was  briefly  described  under  that 
name  in  the  report  of  the  Pomologist  for  that  year,  p.  263.  It  was 
commercially  introduced  by  Mr.  Burbank  in  1893  under  the  name 
••  Wickson,"  and  was  widely  distributed  in  1894:  in  the  form  of  grafting 
wood.  Scions  top- worked  on  bearing  trees  in  Michigan  fruited  largely 
in  1896,  and  their  fruit  surpassed  in  size  and  beauty  the  specimens  pre- 
viously received  from  the  originator.  Young  trees  planted  at  various 
points  from  Georgia  to  Connecticut  and  throughout  the  West  have 
thus  far  borne  rather  sparingly,  and  the  fruit  has  been  found  quite 
susceptible  to  rot  in  wet  seasons.  Notwithstanding  these  defects,  the 
variety  is  one  of  much  promise  and  worthy  of  planting  in  an  experi- 
mental way  wherever  plums  are  grown.  The  specimen  shown  on 
PL  XLIX  was  grown  by  Mr.  George  E.  Murrell,  at  Fontella,  Va. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong  conical,  sometimes  distinctly  pointed;  size  large  to 
very  large;  surface  smooth,  glossy,  with  numerous  minute  russet  dots; 
color  yellow,  washed  and  marbled  with  dark  brownish  red,  giving  it 
a  very  rich,  variegated  effect;  bloom  thin,  transient;  cavity  rather 
large,  deep,  and  abrupt:  stem  rather  stout;  suture  deep  at  base  and 
distinct  to  apex;  skin  moderately  thick,  tenacious,  rather  acid;  stone 
oval,  of  medium  size,  semiadherent;  flesh  yellowish,  translucent,  with 
yellow  veins,  firm  and  meat}'  when  ready  for  market,  but  melting  and 
jiticy  when  fully  ripe;  flavor  sweet,  rich,  aromatic;  quality  very  good. 

The  tree  is  very  erect,  with  long  and  narrow  leaves,  and  the  fruit  is 
borne  on  spurs  on  the  old  wood  rather  than  on  the  strong  leading 
shoots  of  the  previous  year,  as  with  most  of  the  Japanese  sorts.  It  is 
hardy  and  blooms  abundantly,  but  its  productiveness  in  the  Eastern 
States  is  vet  to  be  established.  It  is  one  of  the  earliest  to  blossom, 
and  should  probably  have  such  early  sorts  as  Red  June,  Burbank, 


888         YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Abundance,  and  Chabot  planted  with  it  for  cross  pollination.  The  erect 
habit  of  the  tree  and  the  peculiar  character  of  foliage  have  been  con- 
sidered by  Bailey  and  Waugh  as  evidence  that  the  Simon  plum  (Pru- 
nus  simonii)  entered  into  its  parentage,  and  there  is  much  to  support 
this  view.  The  writer  sees  no  reason  to  doubt  that  Kelsey  was  the 
seed  parent,  however,  as  stated  by  the  originator,  both  in  correspond- 
ence and  in  his  original  description  of  the  variety. 

This  tree  has  been  largely  planted  in  certain  localities  in  California, 
and  the  fruit  of  it  grown  in  that  State  has  been  found  to  bring  very 
high  prices  on  the  Eastern  markets  in  the  fresh  state. 

DOWNING    GRAPE. 

(SYNONYMS:  Charles  Downing;  Ricketts  No.  1. ) 
[PLATE  L.I 

Most  of  the  native  grapes  thus  far  developed  have  been  found  defi- 
cient in  keeping  quality.  In  this  respect  they  are  distinctly  inferior 
to  many  varieties  of  Vitis  vinifera  grown  in  the  Old  World  and  upon 
the  Pacific  coast.  One  of  the  most  notable  exceptions  is  the  Downing, 
which  originated  with  Mr.  James  H.  Ricketts  at  Newburgh,  N.  Y., 
about  1870,  as  a  hybrid  of  Israella  and  Muscat  Hamburg.  It  first 
attracted  public  notice  in  1873,  when  it  was  exhibited  at  the  Boston 
meeting  of  the  American  Pomological  Society,  and  again  in  1875,  when 
it  was  examined  with  other  seedlings  on  the  grounds  of  the  originator 
by  a  committee  of  the  American  Pomological  Society,  composed  of 
J.  J.  Thomas,  Charles  Downing,  and  Patrick  Barry,  and  favorably 
reported  on1  under  the  designation  "  Ricketis  No.  1"  It  was  subse- 
quently named  "  Charles  Downing"  by  Mr.  Ricketts  in  honor  of  his 
neighbor,  the  distinguished  pomologist.  It  was  introduced  by  Mr. 
J.  G.  Burrow,  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  in  1883,  and  considerably  dissemi- 
nated among  amateurs.  It  has  not  attained  prominence  as  a  market 
sort.  The  cluster  described  and  illustrated  on  PL  L  was  grown  by  Mr. 
C.  C.  Corbey,  at  Montclair,  N.  J. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Cluster  large  to  very  large,  moderate!}7  loose,  sometimes  shouldered; 
berry  medium  to  large,  roundish  oval;  skin  rather  thick;  color  brownish 
black  with  a  thin,  light  bloom ;  flesh  tender,  breaking,  juicy ;  seeds 
of  medium  size,  two  or  three  to  the  berry ;  flavor  mild,  sweet  and 
sprightly;  quality  very  good;  season  late;  an  excellent  keeper  and 
shipper. 

The  vine  is  a  vigorous  grower  with  healthy  foliage.  It  is  somewhat 
subject  to  mildew  in  unfavorable  seasons,  and  should  be  thoroughly 
sprayed  whenever  that  disease  is  prevalent. 

.  Am.  Pom.  Soc.,  1875,  pp.  112-114. 


;arbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1901. 


PLATE    L. 


Dowrsi'NG  GRAPE. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1901. 


MULGOBA  MANGO. 


16 

LITTLE-KNOWN    FRUIT    VARIETIES.  389 

Though  sufficiently  hardy  for  the  important  grape  districts  of  the 
East,  it  will  probably  be  advisable  to  take  down  the  vines  from  the 
trellis  to  afford  partial  protection  in  severe  winters.  Like  other 
grapes  of  fine  quality,  the  vine  should  not  be  permitted  to  overbear 
when  best  results  are  desired/  As  a  grape  for  amateurs  it  is  com- 
mended as  one  of  rare  beauty  and  superior  excellence;  also  as  one  of 
the  most  promising  sorts  for  the  grower  who  supplies  a  special  trade 
that  demands  and  is  willing  to  pay  for  fruit  of  fine  quality. 

MULGOBA    MANGO. 

[PLATE  LI.] 

The  mango  is,  comparatively  speaking,  one  of  the  more  recent 
introductions  from  the  Old  World.  It  is  native  in  India  and  elsewhere 
in  southern  Asia.  It  did  not  reach  Europe  until  1690,  when  it  was 
introduced  to  cultivation  in  hot  houses  in  England.  It  is  reported  to 
have  reached  the  West  Indies  from  Brazil  about  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  and  Jamaica  in  1782,  where  it  soon  became 
naturalized.  It  appears  to  have  reached  Florida  first  at  Indian  Key, 
where  it  was  introduced  by  Dr.  Perrine  in  1840,  but  these  plants  failed 
to  survive  the  neglect  that  followed  the  murder  of  that  enterprising 
horticultural  pioneer  by  the  Indians  in  May  of  the  same  year. 

It  was  again  introduced,  probably  from  Jamaica,  about  1870,  at 
Point  Pinellas,  and  a  third  time,  in  1877,  in  the  same  locality,  by  Mr. 
William  P.  Neeld.  The  rapid  growth,  precocity,  and  productiveness 
of  the  trees  grown  by  Mr.  Neeld,  together  with  the  high  prices 
obtained  for  the  fresh  fruit,  both  for  home  use  and  shipment,  resulted 
in  large  plantings  throughout  central  Florida. 

Single  trees  but  6  years  old  from  the  seed  are  reported  to  have 
yielded  upward  of  $50  worth  of  fruit  in  a  season,  and  in  one  instance 
two  seedling  trees  8  years  old  bore  a  crop  estimated  at  19,000  fruits. 
The  freeze  of  January,  1886,  checked  the  rapid  expansion  of  mango 
plantations,  however,  as  it  killed  to  the  ground  practically  all  the 
mango  trees  north  of  the  Caloosahatchie  River.  Sprouts  from  the  old 
trees  and  young  seedlings  rapidly  came  into  bearing,  so  that  there  was 
a  considerable  annual  production  of  fruit  from  about  1890  to  1894, 
inclusive.  The  disastrous  freezes  of  December,  1894,  and  February, 
1895,  proved  fatal  to  most  mango  trees  north  of  the  Caloosahatchie 
River  and  Lake  Worth,  however,  and  since  then  production  and  plant- 
ing have  been  chiefly  limited  to  the  region  below  these  points. 

During  the  earlier  years  of  cultivation  in  Florida  little  effort  was 
made  to  perpetuate  choice  varieties,  except  through  seedlings. '  The 
species  is  propagated  with  difficulty  by  budding  and  grafting,  and  not 
until  recently  have  the  details  been  mastered  sufficiently  to  render 
commercial  propagation  possible.  In  India,  where  the  species  has 
been  grown  under  cultivation  for  centuries,  inarching  is  practiced,  but 


14 

390         YEAEBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

the  trees  propagated  in  this  way  appear  to  be  generally  weak  and  short 
lived  because  of  the  imperfect  union  of  stock  and  scion  that  commonly 
results.  In  Jamaica  and  elsewhere  in  the  West  Indies  little  progress  has 
been  made  in  propagating  by  any  other  method  than  the  growing  of 
seedlings,  though  a  few  trees  of  several  choice  varieties  have  been 
successfully  inarched. 

Prior  to  1889  none  but  seedling  mango  trees  were  grown  in  Florida. 
In  that  year  an  importation  of  eleven  grafted  or  inarched  trees  of  five 
varieties  was  received  from  Bombay,  India,  by  the  Division  of  Pomol- 
ogy, and  placed  with  fruit  growers  on  Lake  Worth,  in  Florida,  for 
testing.  The  trees  were  in  poor  condition  on  arrival,  and  through 
gradual  deterioration  and  the  effects  of  the  freeze  of  February,  1895, 
all  save  one  perished  before  maturing  fruit.  The  surviving  tree,  a 
Mulgoba,  quickly  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  freeze,  and  has 
borne  regular  annual  crops  of  fruit  of  very  superior  quality  since  1898. 
Its  introduction  marks  the  beginning  of  systematic,  rational  mango 
culture  in  the  United  States.  Recent  experience  indicates  that  the 
mango  can  be  successfully  grafted  in  Florida,  and  the  variety  is  now 
quite  generally  distributed  along  the  lower  east  coast,  where  it  appears 
to  thrive.  The  specimen  illustrated  was  from  the  original  imported 
tree  now  standing  on  the  grounds  of  Prof.  E.  Gale,  at  Mangonia,  Fla. 

The  success  of  Mulgoba  since  it  has  become  established  in  Florida, 
and  the  marked  improvement  in  the  methods  of  propagating  this  fruit 
by  budding  and  grafting,  should  encourage  judicious  effort  to  intro- 
duce other  choice  varieties  of  the  mango  that  have  long  been  known 
to  exist  in  India.  Several  of  these  are  considered  of  greater  value 
than  Mulgoba,  some  because  of  their  greater  productiveness,  others 
because  of  their  superior  quality,  and  still  others  because  of  their 
earlier  or  later  ripening. 

While  the  efforts  to  grow  this  fruit  in  California  have  hitherto  not 
resulted  in  the  production  of  fruit  of  choice  quality,  it  seems  not  im- 
probable that  through  the  introduction  of  early  ripening  varieties, 
mango  culture  may  yet  be  successfully  established  in  the  frostless 
thermal  belts  of  the  southern  portion  of  that  State. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish,  oblique,  reniform;  size  large,  weighing  from  three- 
fourths  pound  to  1  pound;  surface  smooth  and  undulating;  color  yel- 
low, beautifully  blushed  with  red  and  faintly  dotted  with  numerous 
brown  dots;  skin  thin,  tough,  tenacious;  seed  reniform,  oval,  rather 
large;  fiber  scanty,  fine,  and  tender;  flesh  rich,  apricot  yellow,  very 
tender,  melting  and  juicy,  sweet,  rich,  fragrant;  quality  very  good. 

The  Mulgoba  surpasses  in  flavor  and  quality  the  seedlings  previously 
grown,  but  its  most  distinctly  marked  features  of  superiority  are  the 


15 

LITTLE-KNOWN    FRUIT   VARIETIES.  391 

tenderness  of  flesh  and  absence  of  the  objectionable  fiber  and  strong 
turpentine  flavor  common  to  most  of  the  seedlings  grown  in  this 
country. 

The  tree  is  a  strong,  symmetrical  grower,  and  appears  to  be  abun- 
dantly productive.  It  is  considered  worthy  of  experimental  planting 
in  eastern  Florida,  south  of  latitude  27C,  and  on  the  Keys,  as  well  as 
in  the  frostless  belts  of  southern  California  and  in  the  new  tropical 
island  possessions. 

ADVANCE  LOQUAT. 

[PLATE  LIT.] 

The  loquat  (Eriobotrya  japonica,  formerly  known  as  Photinia 
japonica)  is  a  Japanese  evergreen  tree  that  promises  to  attain  commer- 
cial importance  in  the  milder  portions  of  the  United  States.  It  was 
introduced  into  England  in  1787,  and  soon  thereafter  became  a  popular 
garden  fruit  in  the  Mediterranean  region.  The  exact  date  of  its  intro- 
duction into  the  United  States  is  not  recorded,  but  it  has  long  been 
grown  in  the  Gulf  States,  frequently  under  the  erroneous  names 
"Japan  Plum"  and  "Japan  Medlar"  More  recently  it  was  intro- 
duced into  California.  The  species  is  sufficiently  hardy  to  endure  ordi- 
nary winters  on  the  Atlantic  slope  as  far  north  as  Washington,  though 
it  succumbs  to  the  lower  temperatures  that  usually  occur  at  intervals 
of  a  few  years,  except  in  specially  favored  localities.  The  fact  that  it 
blossoms  late  in  autumn  and  does  not  ripen  its  fruit  until  about  April  or 
May  will  probably  prevent  it  from  attaining  economic  importance 
north  of  the  Gulf  States.  In  the  form  of  seedling  trees  it  has  been 
grown  in  considerable  areas  near  the  larger  towns  in  Florida  and  near 
New  Orleans,  La.,  for  many  years,  the  delicate  texture  of  the  ripe 
fruit  having  restricted  it  almost  entirely  to  near-by  markets  until 
recently.  AVith  the  improved  methods  of  transportation  now  in  use, 
however,  there  appears  to  be  no  reason  why  the  fruit  should  not  be 
safely  transported  across  the  continent  and  placed  before  the  consumer 
in  good  condition. 

^The  seedlings  of  the  loquat  show  wide  variation  in  size,  form,  and 
flavor  of  fruit,  as  well  as  in  the  relative  proportion  of  seed  to  flesh, 
and  rapid  improvement  by  selection  has  long  been  recognized  as  possi- 
ble. Until  recently,  however,  there  appears  to  have  been  but  little 
systematic  work  along  this  line.  In  fact,  there  appears  to  have  been 
little  effort  to  perpetuate  choice  seedlings  by  grafting  in  this  country 
until  about  1888,  when  a  variety  known  as  "Giant"  was  introduced 
from  Japan  by  H.  H.  Berger  &  Co.,  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  in  the  form 
of  grafted  trees.  The  species  belongs  to  the  Rose  family,  and  unites 
more  or  less  freely  with  pear,  quince,  and  hawthorn  stocks,  though  in 
this  country  loquat  seedlings  are  most  commonly  used  to  bud  and  graft 


16 

392         YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

upon.  In  California  budding  is  more  commonly  practiced,  using  seed- 
ling loquats  about  9  months  old,  and  approximately  1  inch  in  diameter. 
Buds  are  tied  in  with  paraffin  cloth.  The  stocks  are  cut  back  about 
three  weeks  after  budding,  leaving  three  or  four  leaves,  until  the  bud 
has  made  from  4  to  6  inches  of  growth,  when  it  should  be  cut  close  to 
the  inserted  bud  and  waxed  over. 

Perhaps  the  most  successful  originator  of  varieties  of  the  loquat  in 
this  country  thus  far  is  Mr.  C.  P.  Taft,  of  Orange,  Cal.,  whose  seed- 
lings have  attracted  wide  attention.  One  of  the  best  of  these,  the 
"Advance,"  is  illustrated  on  PI.  LII,  from  specimens  grown  by  Mr. 
Taft.  It  is  a  very  large  loquat,  about  three  times  the  size  of  the  ordi- 
nary seedling,  and  double  the  size  of  the  "  Giant."  The  fruit  is  borne 
in  very  large  terminal  clusters,  and  is  of  refreshing,  subaci^l  flavor, 
with  less  than  the  usual  proportion  of  seed  to  flesh.  It  endures  ship- 
ment well,  having  been  successfully  forwarded  from  southern  Cali- 
fornia to  Chicago,  New  York,  and  Washington.  It  is  commended 
for  experimental  planting  in  the  Gulf  States  and  the  warmer  valleys 
of  California. 

In  recent  years  there  has  been  much  interest  in  the  Mediterranean 
region  in  the  improvement  of  this  fruit.  Experimenters  in  Italy  and 
Algeria  have  produced  seedlings  said  to  vary  very  greatly  in  size, 
quality,  and  proportion  of  seed  to  flesh.  As  a  number  of  their  best 
varieties  have  recently  been  secured  through  the  Section  of  Seed  and 
Plant  Introduction,  a  considerable  increase  in  the  commercial  planting 
of  this  wholesome  fruit  may  reasonably  be  expected  in  the  near  future. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1901 


PLATE  ill. 


ADVANCE  LOQUAT. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Fidd  Investigations,  Bureau  <>f  Plant  I 


[KEPRINT  FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1902.] 


19 


CONTENTS. 


Pa^e. 

Introduction 469 

Stayman  Winesap  apple 470 

Description 472 

Randolph  apple 472 

Description 473 

Philopena  pear 474 

Description 475 

Belle  peach 475 

Description 476 

Willett  peach 476 

Description 477 

Brittlevvood  plum _• 477 

Description 478 

Stoddard  plum 478 

Description 479 

Jordan  almond 479 

Description 480 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

PLATE    LVII.  Stayman  Winesap  apple 470 

LVIII.  Randolph  apple 472 

LIX.  Philopena  pear 474 

LX.  Belle  peach 476 

LXI.  Willett  peach 476 

LXII.  Brittlewood  and  Stoddard  plums 478 

LXIII.  Jordan  almond 478 

in 


PROMISING   NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations.  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

Among  fruit  growers  interest  in  new  fruits  is  perennial.  The  high 
prices  at  which  judiciously  advertised  novelties  in  nursery  stock  are 
>old  in  large  numbers  each  year  testify  to  this.  And  while  a  large 
proportion  of  the  sorts  that  receive  wide  notice  from  year  to  year  drop 
nit  of  sight  soon  after  the  self-interest  of  the  introducers  ceases  to 
ieep  them  before  the  public,  many  find  lasting  places  of  usefulness 
11  localities  where  their  special  adaptability  to  local  environment  is 
proved  by  test.  It  is  therefore  well  that  new  sorts  shall  continue  to 
>e  tested  by  fruit  growers  from  time  to  time,  even  in  advance  of  their 
Commercial  introduction,  for  in  no  other  way  can  rapid,  continuous 
mprovement  in  the  character  of  the  fruits  of  any  region  be  accom- 
plished. 

Improved  cultural  treatment,  including  judicious  fertilizing,  tilling, 
pruning,  and  spraying,  may  accomplish  much,  but  the  best  attention 
;o  any  or  all  of  these  points  fails  to  secure  the  desired  economic  end 
)f  largest  yield  and  highest  quality  at  least  cost  of  labor,  time,  and 
iioney  unless  the  effort  is  made  upon  varieties  adapted  to  the  local 
environment  and  which  yield  fruit  suited  to  the  purpose  .for  which 
;he  product  is  to  be  used. 

It  is  therefore  advisable  for  growers  to  keep  themselves  informed 
•egarding  the  more  promising  varieties  of  the  fruits  in  which  they 
ire  personalty  interested,  and  especial!}*  such  as  give  evidence  of 
laving  attracted  attention  through  inherent  merit,  rather  than 
through  lavish  praise  by  originators  or  introducers,  for  it  is  usually 
unong  such  that  the  permanent  improvements  over  previously  exist- 
ng  varieties  are  found.  A  few  fruits  of  this  character  that  have 
reached  the  office  of  the  Pomologist  recently  are  described  and  illus- 
rated  in  this  paper. 

The  newness  of  some  of  the  fruits  mentioned  rests  rather  upon  the 
Jact  that  they  have  hitherto  had  only  local  or,  at  most,  restricted  rep- 
itation,  than  upon  recent  origin.  But  they  are  believed  to  be  none 
:he  less  promising  to  the  general  fruit  grower  011  that  account.  The 
?act  of  long  test  of  such  sorts  in  the  localities  of  their  origin  or 

469 


470         YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

restricted  distribution  is,  in  truth,  their  strongest  claim  to  recogni- 
tion, and  it  is  because  of  this  that  they  are  suggested  to  growers  as 
worthy  of  testing  in  other  and  larger  fields. 

STAYMAN   WINESAP   APPLE. 

(SYNONYMS:  Stayman 's  Winesap;  Stayman.) 
[PLATE  LVII]. 

The  Winesap  apple  has  from  a  very  early  day  been  one  of  the  most 
popular  winter  varieties,  for  both  home  use  and  market,  in  that  great 
belt  of  country  which  extends  from  New  Jersey,  Virginia,  and  North 
Carolina  to  Arkansas,  Kansas,  and  Nebraska.  In  more  recent  years 
it  has  assumed  commercial  importance  at  many  points  in  the  Rocky 
Mountain  region  and  on  the  Pacific  slope.  Even  before  apples  were 
grown  for  sale  as  fruit  to  any  extent  in  the  region  in  question  it  was 
prized  as  a  cider  variety.  Thus,  its  standing  as  a  cider  fruit  was  rec- 
ognized by  Dr.  James  Mease  in  the  first  American  edition  of  Willich's 
Domestick  Encyclopedia,  which  was  published  at  Philadelphia  in  1804. 
In  this  work  Dr.  Mease,  in  his  list  of  "Cyder  apples,"  describes  the 
Winesap  as  follows : 

WiNE-Sop. — An  autumn  fruit,  of  deep  red  colour,  and  sweet,  sprightly  taste; 
makes  excellent  cyder,  which  is  preferred  by  some  to  that  of  Red  Streak;  «  culti- 
vated by  Samuel  Coles,  of  Moore's-town,  New  Jersey. 

Dr.  Mease's  account  is  worthy  of  special  notice  from  the  fact  that  it 
was,  in  the  language  of  the  author,  ' '  the  first  attempt  ever  made  to 
collect  into  one  view  a  list  of  the  finest  kinds  of  apples  growing  in  the 
United  States."  This  antedated  by  thirteen  years  Coxe's  "  View  of 
the  cultivation  of  fruit  trees,"  published  also  in  Philadelphia,  in  1817, 
which  has  usually  been  considered  the  beginning  of  systematic  pomol- 
ogy in  America.  Dr.  Mease's  observations  appear  to  have  been  chiefly 
limited  to  eastern  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  but  fortunately 
included  the  collection  of  William  Coxe  at  Burlington,  then  about  ten 
years  established,  as  well  as  several  others  of  that  region;  so  that  his 
list  includes  the  earliest  known  descriptions  of  about  forty  varieties 
of  apples  that  are  still  grown,  in  addition  to  a  number  that  are  probably 
not  now  in  existence. 

Coxe  in  1817  described  and  illustrated  the  Winesap  in  his  work 
above  noted,  and  characterized  it  as  then  "becoming  the  most  favor- 
ite cider  fruit  in  West  Jersey."  He  commended  it  highly  on  the  score 
of  its  productiveness,  but  noted  its  unsatisfactory  habit  of  growth, 
which  still  remains  its  chief  defect  as  an  orchard  tree.  Nothing- 
appears  to  be  known  regarding  its  time  and  place  of  origin.  Neither 
Mease  nor  Coxe  refers  to  these  points.  It  has  been  assumed  by 

«  Red  Streak  was  one  of  the  famous  English  cider  apples  grown  in  this  country 
at  that  time. 


Yearbook  U.S.  Dept.of  Agriculture,  1902. 


PLATE  LVII. 


STAYMAN    WINEISAP   APPLE. 


00 
&CJ 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  471 

subsequent  writers   that   it  originated  somewhere   in   western  Xew 
Jersey  at  some  time  prior  to  the  year  1800. 

As  would  be  expected,  a  variety  with  so  many  strongly  marked 
characteristics,  grown  under  such  varied  soil  and  climatic  conditions 
as  are  found  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Ozarks,  has  left  a  marked  impress 
011  the  pomology  of  this  great  region.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  however, 
that  so  far  as  known  nearly  all  of  those  newer  varieties  which  show 
strong  evidence  of  Winesap  parentage  have  originated  west  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  Kinnard, 
Paragon,  and  Gilbert,  of  Tennessee;  Arkansas  (synonym  Mammoth 
Black  Twig)  and  Arkansas  Black,  of  Arkansas  Howsley;  and  the 
several  seedlings  grown  by  Dr.  J.  Stayman,  of  Leavenworth,  Kans., 
of  which  last  the  Stayman  Winesap  has  been  most  widely  dissem- 
inated. 

During  the  past  six  or  eight  years  Stayman  Winesap  has  been 
widely  discussed  by  commercial  fruit  growers  throughout  the  Eastern 
United  States.  According  to  the  statement  of  its  originator,  it  was 
one  of  a  lot  of  seedlings  grown  at  Leavenworth,  Kans.,  in  1866,  from 
seed  selected  from  a  choice  lot  of  Winesap  apples  grown  in  the  same 
county.  About  a  dozen  of  the  most  promising  seedlings  of  the  lot, 
as  judged  from  foliage  and  wood,  were  transplanted  to  permanent 
locations  in  1868  and  allowed  to  attain  fruiting  age.  When  they 
came  into  bearing,  so  large  a  proportion  of  them  were  considered 
promising  that  Dr.  Stayman  sent  out  scions  of  several  to  parties  in 
Kansas,  Minnesota,  Xew  Jersey,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  and  Virginia 
for  testing.  Of  the  lot,  at  least  three,  besides  the  Stayman  Winesap, 
appear  to  possess  distinct  merit,  the  others  having  been  more  or  less 
disseminated  under  the  designations  Stayman  Xos.  1  and  2  and  Stay- 
man  Sweet. 

The  variety  described  and  illustrated  in  this  paper  first  produced^ 
fruit  in  1875,  and  the  first  published  description  of  it  appeared  under 
the  name  "  Stayman's  Winesap"  in  Charles  Dowiiing's  third  appendix 
to  the  second  revised  edition  of  "Fruits  and  fruit  trees  of  America," 
published  in  1881.  Dr.  Staj'inan  also  published  a  description  of  the 
variety  in  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Missouri  State  Horticultural 
Society  for  1883.  The  original  tree  of  this  variety  was  destroyed  by  a 
storm  several  years  ago,  but  those  of  the  other  seedlings  were  reported 
to  be  still  standing  in  January,  1903. 

Further  than  these  descriptions  the  variety  does  not  appear  to  have 
attracted  any  special  attention  until  after  1890,  when  its  good  quali- 
ties were  discovered  almost  simultaneously  by  Mr.  R.  J.  Black,  of 
Bremen,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  J.  W.  Kerr,  of  Denton,  Md.,  both 'of  whom 
fruited  it  on  top  grafts  at  about  that  time.  It  was  first  catalogued 
by  the  latter  in  1894-1895,  and  has  been  quite  extensively  planted 
in  Xew  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  Virginia 
since  that  date,  and  somewhat  in  other  States.  Its  chief  merits 


472        YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

are  its  exceptionally  vigorous  growth  of  root  and  top,  its  large  and 
luxuriant  foliage,  which  enables  the  tree  to  carry  its  full  crop  up  to 
maturity,  and  the  excellent  quality  of  the  fruit,  superior  in  this  respect 
to  that  of  its  parent.  The  only  particular  in  which  it  does  not  equal 
the  parent  is  in  its  color,  which  is  somewhat  less  brilliant  than  that 
of  the  old  variety.  The  fruit  is  sometimes  subject  to  barrel  scald  in 
storage  when  picked  before  reaching  full  maturity,  being  quite  simi- 
lar to  the  parent  in  this  respect.  Taking  all  important  points  into  con- 
sideration, the  Stayman  Winesap  appears  to  be  adapted  to  a  wider 
range  of  soil  and  climate  than  its  parent  and  to  be  well  worthy  of 
testing,  both  for  home  use  and  market,  throughout  middle  latitudes. 
The  specimen  shown  on  PI.  LVII  was  grown  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Kerr,  at 
Denton,  Md.,  and  is  fairly  representative  of  the  variety  as  it  grows 
on  the  Chesapeake  Peninsula. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  conical,  with  some  specimens  slightly  oblique;  size 
medium  to  large,  averaging  considerably  larger  than  Winesap ;  sur- 
face smooth;  color  greenish  yellow,  washed  and  faintly  striped  with 
rather  dull  mixed  red,  thinly  splashed  and  striped  with  crimson;  dots 
numerous,  russet,  many  aureole;  cavity  regular,  large,  deep,  russeted; 
stem  short,  rather  stout;  basin  regiilar,  small,  shallow;  calyx  segments 
long,  narrow,  converging,  reflexed  at  tip;  eye  of  medium  size,  closed; 
skin  moderate!}7  thick,  tenacious;  core  oval,  small  to  medium,  mod- 
erately open;  seeds  numerous,  plump,  brown,  of  medium  size;  flesh 
yellowish,  moderately  fine-grained,  breaking,  juicy;  flavor  sprightly 
subacid,  good  to  very  good.  Season  winter,  keeping  well  in  common 
storage  and  apparently  well  adapted  to  cold  storage. 

The  tree  is  a  strong,  moderately  upright  grower,  with  dark  wood 
and  large,  health}7  foliage.  It  promises  to  be  much  longer  lived  than 
the  parent,  and  is  apparently  adapted  to  regions  somewhat  farther 
north  than  the  old  Winesap  is  known  to  succeed. 

RANDOLPH  APPLE. 
(SYNONYM:  "  Unknown.") 

[PLATE  LVIIL] 

Among  the  varieties  of  summer  apples  tested  in  the  experimental 
export  shipments  -conducted  b}T  the  Department  of  Agriculture  in 
1902,  one  of  the  most  promising  sorts  for  long-distance  shipment  was 
the  Randolph.  The  origin  of  this  variety  is  not  known,  its  history, 
so  far  as  ascertained,  being  as  follows:  When  the  late  Randolph 
Peters,  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  bought  the  farm  near  Fariihurst,  Del., 
where  he  established  a  nursery  about  1869,  he  found  upon  it  an  apple 
orchard.  In  this  orchard  there  were  one  or  more  trees  of  a  summer 
apple  not  recognized  by  him,  which  impressed  him  with  its  value 
as  a  commercial  variety  because  of  its  firm  flesh,  sprightly  flavor,  and 


Yearbook  U.S  Dept  of  Agriculture.  1902 


PLATE  LVIII. 


RANDOLPH    APPLE 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  473 

brilliant  color,  yielding  fruit  uniformly  fair  and  smooth.  Supposing 
it  to  be  an  old  variety,  he  sent  specimens  for  identification  to  various 
pomologists,  including  the  late  Charles  Downing.  None  of  the  experts 
recognized  the  variety,  and  Mr.  Peters,  considering  it  worthy  of  dis- 
semination, dubbed  it  "Unknown,"  and  offered  it  for  sale  in  his 
catalogue  as  early  as  1884  under  that  name.  From  this  nursery  it  was 
quite  widely  introduced,  and  in  recent  years  has  attracted  attention  in 
Nebraska.  Arkansas,  Maryland,  and  Delaware,  being  most  widely 
grown  in  a  commercial  way  in  the  last-mentioned  State.  One  of  the 
iirst  to  recognize  its  merit  after  it  was  distributed  by  Mr.  Peters 
appears  to  have  been  Mr.  H.  T.  Vose,  of  West  Point,  Ark.,  then  of 
Otoe  County,  Nebr.  Mr.  Vose  states  that  he  solicited  and  obtained 
the  consent  of  the  introducer  to  name  it  "Randolph,"  in  honor  of  the 
discoverer. 

While  not  of  the  highest  dessert  quality,  the  Randolph  is  a  good 
eating  apple  of  mild  flavor,  distinctly  better  than  most  varieties  of 
its  season,  with  a  firmness  of  texture  and  brilliance  of  color  that 
render  it  one  of  the  best  summer  varieties  for  long  shipment  by  either 
rail  or  sea.  Mr.  Vose  reported  it  in  1895  as  the  most  vigorous  grower 
in  his  collection  of  sixty  or  more  varieties,  and  an  early,  annual 
bearer,  ripening  about  two  weeks  later  than  Red  June.  The  fruit 
sets  singly  or  rarely  in  pairs  on  the  fruit  spurs,  and  as  it  does  not 
overload,  its  crop  is  more  even  in  size  than  varieties  that  set  their 
fruit  in  clusters. 

On  Plate  LVIII  is  illustrated  a  specimen  grown  by  Mr.  Thomas  O. 
Duvall,  Spencerville,  Montgomery  County,  Md.,  in  1902. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblate,  very  symmetrical;  size  medium  to  large;  surface 
smooth  and  glossj';  color  creamy  white,  washed  with  crimson  and 
beautifully  striped  with  darker  crimson;  dots  few,  gray,  indented; 
cavity  regular,  of  medium  size  and  depth  and  gradual  slope,  striped 
and  russeted;  stem  short  to  medium,  rather  stout;  basin  regular,  of 
medium  size  and  depth  and  abrupt  slope,  slightly  furrowed;  skin 
thick,  tenacious;  core  medium,  oblate  couic,  partially  open,  clasping 
the  eye;  seeds  plump,  brown,  medium,  numerous;  flesh  yellowish, 
with  a  satiny  luster,  moderately  fine-grained,  very  firm,  breaking, 
moderately  juicy;  flavor  mild  subacid,  good.  Season  second  half  of 
July  in  Delaware  and  tide-water  Maryland. 

The  tree  is  a  vigorous  grower,  with  brownish  wood  and  light  dots. 
It  is  regularly  and  sufficiently  productive. 

The  variety  is  considered  by  Mr.  Duvall  the  most  profitable  sum- 
mer apple  of  his  section  in  Maryland,  arid  from  its  behavior  in  the 
< 'xpci-iincntal  export  shipments  referred  to  it  is  considered  well  worthy 
of  testing  as  a  commercial  summer  apple  throughout  the  country. 


26 

474         YEAKBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

PHILOPENA  PEAR. 
[PLATE  LIX.] 

To  the  regret  of  pear  lovers  who  appreciate  varieties  chiefly,  if  not 
solely,  for  their  flavor  and  quality,  the  trend  in  American  pomology 
in  recent  years,  as  judged  by  the  character  of  varieties  introduced, 
has  been  toward  superficial  beauty,  size,  and  productiveness  rather 
than  toward  marked  improvement  in  dessert  quality.  The  necessity 
for  varieties  resistant  to  diseases  affecting  foliage  and  fruit  has  played 
an  important  part  in  fostering  this  tendency.  This  is  especially  true 
as  regards  the  disease  known  as  pear  blight,  to  which  many  of  the  finer 
sorts  have  succumbed  in  the  South,  and  which  renders  the  culture  of 
pears  an  uncertain  undertaking  in  the  Middle  States,  especially  in  the 
great  Mississippi  Valley.  It  is  unfortunate  that  the  planting  of  a 
number  of  the  finer  dessert  sorts  has  practically  ceased  in  the  regions 
mentioned,  their  places  having  been  taken  by  the  more  vigorous  and 
resistant  varieties  of  the  Oriental  type,  none  of  which  has  yet  devel- 
oped high  dessert  quality. 

The  fact  that  Seckel  and  a  few  others  of  the  European  type  have 
persisted  here  and  there  throughout  the  region  in  question,  where 
Bartlett,  Clapp  Favorite,  Flemish  Beauty,  and  other  popular  sorts 
have  succumbed,  has  given  rise  to  the  hope,  among  some  growers,  that 
through  the  agency  of  seedlings  of  these  more  resistant  sorts  varieties 
may  ultimately  be  developed  that  will  be  sufficiently  blight  resistant 
to  endure  the  existing  conditions  and  at  the  same  time  retain  the 
high  quality  of  the  parent  varieties. 

Among  the  most  promising  varieties  in  this  respect  is  the  Philo- 
pena,  shown  on  PL  LIX.  Its  record  well  illustrates  the  vicissitudes 
that  frequently  attend  the  early  history  of  fruit  varieties  which  sub- 
sequently prove  their  value  through  the  possession  of  some  strongly 
marked  characters. 

The  essential  facts,  as  related  by  Mr.  W.  II.  Ragan,  are  as  follows: 
In  1843  the  late  Joshua  Lindley,  who  had  for  some  years  conducted  a 
nursery  at  Monrovia,  Ind.,  closed  out  his  stock  preparatory  to  return- 
ing to  his  former  home  in  Guilford  County,  N.  C.  The  late  Reuben 
Ragan,  of  Putnam  County,  Ind. ,  purchased  part  of  this  stock.  Among 
it  was  a  long-bodied  seedling  pear  tree,  in  which  was  a  dormant  bud 
of  the  Aremberg  (synonym  Beurre  cT  Aremberg)  pear.  As  the  latter 
was  a  rare  and  high-priced  variety  in  the  region  at  the  time,  this  tree 
was  given  special  attention  by  the  owner,  with  the  natural  result  that 
a  strong  and  thrifty  top  was  quickly  grown  from  the  Aremberg  bud. 
About  1847,  during  one  of  those  epidemics  of  pear  blight  which  have 
repeatedly  devastated  the  trees  of  the  region,  the  Aremberg  top  was 
attacked  by  the  disease  and  killed  down  to  the  seedling  stock.  Little 
attention  was  subsequently  paid  to  the  tree  until  it  came  into  bearing. 
It  was  then  found  to  yield  a  delicious  late  fall  'pear  of  medium  size, 


Yearoook  U.S.Dept.of  Agriculture.   1902. 


PLATE  LIX 


PHILOPENA    PEAR 


27 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  475 

which  was  named  Philopena  by  the  originator  some  time  between  1850 
and  1860. 

It  appears  to  have  been  first  described  in  the  Report  of  the  Secretary 
of  Agriculture  for  1880  (p.  -444). 

It  has  been  propagated  locally  in  Putnam  County,  Ind.,  and  dis- 
seminated to  some  extent  by  distribution  to  experimenters  through  the 
Department  of  Agriculture.  While  its  parentage  is  not  known,  it 
strongly  resembles  in  certain  characters  both  Seckel  and  Louise  Bonne 
de  Jersey. 

PI.  LIX  shows  a  fair- sized  specimen  of  this  fruit  grown  on  the  origi- 
nal tree  in  1901,  by  Mr.  R.  M.  Ragan,  at  Fillmore,  Ind. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong  pyriform,  tapering  sharply  to  the  stem;  size  medium, 
or  slightly  below;  surface  moderately  smooth;  color  dark  yellow, 
lightly  russeted,  and  showing  a  brownish  blush  on  side  exposed  to  the 
sun;  dots  numerous,  small,  russet;  cavity  obsolete,  stem  of  medium 
length,  and  diameter,  obliquely  inserted ;  basin  regular,  small,  shal- 
low, slightly  furrowed;  calyx  segments  small,  converging;  eye  small, 
closed ;  skin  rather  thick,  tenacious;  core  oval,  of  medium  size,  closed ; 
seeds  of  medium  size,  plump,  brown,  numerous;  flesh  yellowish,  fine- 
grained, meat}',  moderately  juicy;  flavor  sweet  and  rich;  quality  good 
to  very  good.  Season,  October  and  November  in  central  Indiana. 

The  original  tree,  now  more  than  sixty  years  old,  is  still  in  thrifty 
condition,  bearing  annual  crops.  It  is  an  upright  but  rather  strag- 
gling grower,  the  young  wood  having  a  yellowish-green  color.  The 
variety  appears  worthy  of  experimental  planting  throughout  the  Mid- 
dle States. 

BELLE   PEACH. 
(SYNONYMS:  Belle  of  Georgia;  Georgia.) 

[PLATE  LX.] 

The  Chinese  Cling  group  of  peaches  has,  in  recent  years,  demon- 
strated its  adaptability  to  a  much  wider  range  of  climatic  conditions 
than  was  formerly  supposed  to  be  the  case.  Elberta,  the  best  known 
variety  of  this  group,  has  already  proved  a  successful  and  profitable 
commercial  sort  from  Georgia  and  Texas  to  Michigan  and  Connecti- 
cut. Among  the  varieties  of  this  group  that  are  less  widely  known, 
perhaps  none  possesses  more  valuable  points  than  that  which  was 
introduced  to  cultivation  by  Dr.  S.  H.  Rumph  about  1883,  under 
the  name  "Belle."  The  variety  was  afterwards  catalogued  by  many 
nurserymen  as  "Belle  of  Georgia."  The  name  was  published  as 
"Georgia"  in  the  catalogue  of  the  American  Poinological  Society  for 
1  >'.»:>,  the  fact  that  this  name  had  already  been  published  for  at  least 
three  other  varieties  having,  in  the  chaotic  state  of  pornological  nomen- 
clature, apparently  escaped  notice. 


28 

476        YEAEBOOK    OE    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGEICULTUEE. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  Elberta  and  Belle  were  grown  as  seed- 
lings from  the  same  crop  of  fruit  of  one  Chinese  Cling  tree  in  Georgia. 
The  early  history  of  Belle  is  thus  recorded  by  Powell"  from  informa- 
tion furnished  by  the  originator: 

Seedling  of  Chinese  Cling  possibly  crossed  with  Oldmixdn  Free.  Originated  with 
Mr.  Lewis  A.  Rnmph.  Marshallville.  Ga. ,  from  seed  from  a  Chinese  Cling  tree  in  the 
variety  orchard  of  Dr.  S.  H.  Humph,  Marshallville.  Ga.  The  original  Chinese 
Cling  tree  stood  in  the  center  of  the  variety  block  near  some  Oldmixon  Free,  Old- 
mixon  Cling,  Crawford  Early,  and  Crawford  Late  trees.  Mr.  L.  A.  Rumph 
planted  the  stone  in  the  fall  of  1870  from  the  same  tree,  and  at  the  same  time  S.  H. 
Rumph  planted  a  stone  that  produced  the  Elberta. 

Though  slower  than  Elberta  to  attain  popularity  in  the  North,  Belle 
is  found  to  endure  lower  winter  temperatures  without  injury  and  to 
be  more  reliably  productive  than  the  former  variety  in  some  sections. 
The  only  important  objection  to  it,  from  the  commercial  standpoint, 
appears  to  be  its  white  color,  which  may  render  it  less  popular  in  mar- 
kets that  prefer  j^ellow-fleshed  sorts. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oblong,  in  the  South  often  tapering  to  a  distinct 
point,  usually  symmetrical;  size  medium  to  large;  surface  smooth, 
soft,  and  velvety;  color  creamy  white,  with  a  beautiful  crimson  blush 
on  the  side  exposed  to  the  sun,  sometimes  marbled  with  crimson; 
down  short,  adherent ;  cavity  regular,  small,  shallow,  abrupt;  suture 
shallow,  except  at  cavity  and  apex;  apex  small  and  depressed  in 
suture  in  Northern-grown  specimens,  frequently  large,  prominent,  and 
pointed  in  the  South;  skin  thin,  tenacious;  stone  oval,  of  medium 
size,  and  free ;  flesh  whitish,  tinged  with  red  at  stone,  tender,  melting, 
and  juicy  when  ripe,  though  sufficiently  firm  for  shipment  when 
picked  in  advance  of  full  maturity;  flavor  subacid,  rich,  and  pleasant ; 
quality  good  to  very  good.  Season,  late  July  at  Fort  Valley,  Ga,,  late 
August  in  northern  Virginia  and  Missouri,  beginning  to  ripen  slightly 
in  advance  of  Elberta,  but  ending  at  about  midseason  of  that  variety. 

Tree  vigorous,  spreading,  rather  slender,  hardy,  and  productive. 
Leaf  glands  small,  reniform;  blossoms  small. 

It  is  one  of  the  most  promising  white-fleshed  freestones  for  the  com- 
mercial peach  districts,  especially  on  light  and  dry  soils. 

WILLETT   PEACH. 

(SYNONYM:  WiUett's  Seedling.) 

[PLATE  LXL] 

This  promising  yellow  freestone  is  reported  to  have  originated  from 
a  stone  brought  from  some  point  in  South  America  by  the  late  Cor- 
nelius  O'Bryan,  of  "Bryant's  Minstrels,"  who  planted  it  in  his  garden 

"Bulletin  No.  54,  "  The  Chinese  cling  group  of  peaches."  1902,  p.  20,  Delaware 
College  Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 


Yearbook  U.  S  DeptoT  Agriculture.  1902 


PLATE  LX 


BELLE    PEACH 


Yearbook  U.S  Deptof  Agriculture.  1902 


PLATE  LXI 


WILLETT    PEACH 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  477 

at  No.  110  West  Fortieth  street,  New  York  City,  some  time  prior  to 
isr,7.  The  property  came  into  possession  of  Mr.  Wallace  P.  Willett 
in  1874,  and  the  tree  was  in  that  year  large  and  in  full  bearing,  carry- 
ing several  bushels  of  fine  fruit.  It  was  crowded  by  buildings  and 
fences,  which  necessitated  frequent  and  severe  pruning,  but  it  sur- 
vived until  about  1888  or  1889.  Twelve  selected  specimens  of  the 
fruit  from  the  original  tree  were  exhibited  by  Mr.  Willett  at  the 
American  Institute  Fair  in  187-1.  These  specimens  weighed  12  ounces 
each  and  measured  12  inches  each  in  circumference.  On  this  exhibit 
he  was  awarded  the  diploma  of  the  institute  for  "Seedling  peaches." 

The  following  year  Mr.  Willett  furnished  a  few  scions  to  C.  L.  Van 
Duzen,  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  who  first  propagated  the  peach  and  who 
introduced  it  in  1876  under  the  name  "  Willett's  Seedling,"  which  has 
since  been  reduced  to  Willett,  in  conformity  with  the  rules  of  nomen- 
clature of  the  American  Pomological  Society. 

The  variety  does  not  appear  to  have  been  widely  advertised  or  dis- 
tributed, but  demand  for  the  trees  has  been  found  to  grow  steadily  in 
recent  years,  as  its  worth  has  been  recognized  in  different  portions  of 
the  North.  Its  hardiness  in  fruit  bud,  beauty,  excellent  shipping 
quality,  and  special  adaptability  for  canning,  preserving,  and  brandy- 
ing  make  it  one  of  the  most  promising  medium  late  varieties  for  the 
Northern  commercial  grower.  Unfortunately,  the  stock  of  the  variety 
in  the  nurseries  appears  to  have  been  considerably  mixed,  so  that  in 
many  cases  inferior  sorts  have  been  sent  out  under  the  name;  hence 
care  should  be  exercised  by  planters  to  secure  stock  true  to  name. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  obovate,  conical,  often  unequal;  size  large  to  very 
large ;  surface  very  soft  and  velvety,  covered  with  short,  loose  down ; 
color  rich  deep  yellow,  deeply  blushed,  and  occasionally  striped  with 
crimson;  cavity  very  large,  deep,  and  abrupt;  suture  shallow  except 
at  cavity  and  apex ;  apex  moderately  prominent ;  skin  moderately 
thick,  tenacious ;  stone  of  medium  size,  oval,  free ;  flesh  rich  yellow, 
stained  with  red  at  the  stone,  firm  and  compact,  yet  juicy;  flavor 
sprightly  subacid;  quality  good,  especially  desirable  for  preserving. 

Tree  vigorous,  foliage  large;  glands  reniform;  blossoms  large. 

Commended  to  commercial  planters  who  find  demand  for  a  high- 
grade  yellow  freestone  to  follow  Elberta. 

The  specimens  shown  on  PI.  LXI  were  received  from  Mr.  Wallace 
P.  Willett,  East  Orange,  N.  J.,  in  1000. 

BRITTLE  WOOD   PLUM. 

(SYNONYM:  Brittlewood  No.  1.) 

[PLATE  LXIL] 

111  regions  where  temperatures  lower  than  —20°  F.  are  frequently 
experienced,  the  varieties  of  the  Domestica  type  of  plums,  which 


30 

478   YEARBOOK  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

constitute  the  main  dependence  in  the  milder  fruit  regions  of  the  North, 
maintain  but  an  uncertain  existence,  and  are  not  infrequently  entirely 
destroyed  by  freezing.  Fruit  growers  of  the  Upper  Mississippi  Valley 
in  particular  have  sustained  heavy  losses  in  this  way  and  have  been 
devoting  careful  attention  to  the  development  by  selection  or  breed- 
ing, or  by  both  methods  in  combination,  of  varieties  of  the  hardy 
native  plum  of  that  region  (Prunus  americana  of  the  botanists). 
The  result  has  been  that  a  large  number  of  wildings  of  greater  or  less 
promise  have  been  transplanted  to  gardens  and  christened  and  intro- 
duced to  the  public  through  the  medium  of  commercial  nurseries. 
The  large  majority  of  these  have  proved  to  be  of  but  doubtful  value, 
but  among  them  and  the  seedlings  grown  from  them,  some  very  dis- 
tinct improvements  over  the  wild  type  are  appearing. 

One  of  the  best  of  these  is  the  variety  originated  by  Mr.  Theodore 
Williams,  of  Benson,  Nebr.,  from  seed  of  Quaker,  pollinated  by  Harri- 
son Peach,  the  former  one  of  the  earliest  introductions  of  this  species, 
and  one  of  the  best  in  quality.  Brittlewood  was  commercially  intro- 
duced by  Mr.  J.  W.  Kerr,  of  Denton,  Md.,  in  1896. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  globular,  symmetrical;  size  large  for  the  Americana  type; 
cavity  small,  shallow;  stem  short,  slender;  suture  shallow;  apex 
slightly  depressed ;  surface  smooth;  color  light  coppery  red,  covered 
with  a  heavy  bluish-white  bloom;  dots  numerous,  minute,  russet; 
skin  thick,  tenacious,  free  from  bitterness;  stone  oval,  rather  large, 
cling;  flesh  yellowish,  translucent,  meaty,  juicy;  flavor  mild  subacid, 
rich;  quality  very  good.  Season  end  of  August  in  eastern  Nebraska. 

Tree  strong,  spreading,  vigorous;  worthy  of  thorough  testing  in  the 
North. 

The  specimen  shown  on  PI.  LXII  was  grown  by  Mr.  Theodore  Wil- 
liams, of  Benson,  Nebr. 

STODDARD   PLUM. 
.  [PLATE  LXII.] 

Unlike  the  Brittlewood,  which  grew  from  planted  seed,  the  Stoddard 
plum  appears  to  have  been  a  wilding. 

It  was  first  brought  to  notice  by  Mr.  B.  F.  Stoddard,  of  Jessup,  Iowa, 
about  1875,  who  found  it  growing  in  the  garden  of  Mrs.  Caroline  Baker, 
of  that  village.  Mrs.  Baker  states  that  her  husband  secured  the  trees 
during  the  early  settlement  of  the  region  at  some  point  farther  north, 
presumably  in  the  woods,  on  the  Maquoketa  River.  Her  belief  as  to 
the  locality  of  origin  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  Mr.  Elmer 
Reeves,  of  Waverly,  Iowa,  informs  the  writer  that  he  found  a  yard 
in  the  village  of  Sumner  full  of  trees  of  the  same  variety,  which  had 
been  brought  from  near  the  Maquoketa  River. a 

«  Letter  of  Elmer  Reeves,  January,  1903. 


Yearbook  U.S.  Dept.of  Agriculture,  1902. 


STODDARD 


B  RITTLEWOOD 


BRITTLEWOOD  AND  STODDARD  PLUMS 


Yearbook  U.S  DeptoT  Agriculture,  1902. 


PLATE  LXIII 


. 


JORDAN    ALMOND. 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  479 

The  variety  was  commercially  introduced  by  the  Wragg  Nursery  at 
Waukee,  Iowa,  about  1895,  and  has  been  found  adapted  to  conditions 
at  many  points  between  Nebraska  and  Maryland. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish,  slightlj'  oblique;  size  medium;  cavity  small,  shal- 
low; apex  minute,  depressed;  surface  smooth;  color  deep  purplish 
red,  with  bluish  white  bloom;  dots  numerous,  minute,  yellow;  skin 
rather  thick  and  tough,  acid  but  only  slightly  astringent;  stone  oval, 
of  medium  size,  cling;  flesh  deep  yellow,  translucent,  tender,  juicy; 
flavor  mild  subacid,  rich;  quality  good. 

Tree  strong,  vigorous,  and  productive.  A  valuable  sort  for  the 
North  and  West. 

The  specimen  shown  on  PI.  LXII  was  received  from  the  late  Prof. 
E.  S.  Goff,  of  Madison,  Wis.,  in  1901. 

JORDAN  ALMOND. 
[PLATE  LXIIL] 

The  exact  identity  and  the  place  of  production  of  the  commercial 
supply  of  the  Jordan  almond  were  until  quite  recently  shrouded 
in  obscurity.  Under  the  name  "Jordan"  considerable  quantities  of 
almond  kernels  of  large  size,  symmetrical  form,  and  delicate  flavor 
have  long  been  known  in  the  markets  of  England  and  America. 
These  kernels  were  said  to  have  come  from  Malaga,  Spain,  where  a 
single  firm  practically  controlled  the  product  and  exported  it  entirely 
in  the  form  of  shelled  kernels.  A  search  of  European  nursery  cata- 
logues failed  to  afford  any  clue  to  the  identity  of  the  varietj-  or  the 
source  from  which  the  nuts  came,  and  steps  were  accordingly  taken 
by  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  through  its  Division  of  Pomolog3T 
and  Section  of  Seed  and  Plant  Introduction,  to  locate  the  variety 
in  its  region  of  commercial  production  and  secure  authentic  stock  for 
testing  in  the  almond  districts  of  the  United  States.  This  end  was 
accomplished  by  Mr.  David  G.  Fairchild,  agricultural  explorer,  who, 
during  the  summer  of  1901,  visited  southeastern  Spain,  investigated 
the  orchards,  and  secured  scions  from  bearing  trees.  From  these 
scions  trees  were  propagated  that  are  now  growing  at  several  points 
in  the  United  States,  and  may  soon  be  expected  to  yield  fruit. 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  John  Rock,  of  Niles,  Cal.,  had  secured,  early  in  1897, 
through  a  French  correspondent,  some  dormant  budded  trees  propa- 
gated on  myrobalan  plum  stock  in  France  from  scions  obtained  in 
Spain  in  1896.  Fearing  that  the  almond  would  not  thrive  on  myro- 
balan roots  in  California,  Mr.  Rock  grafted  100  of  these  dormant 
buds  upon  bearing  peach  trees,  using  as  a  scion  the  entire  trunk  of 
the  myrobalan  plum  stock  with  the  dormant  almond  bud  upon  it. 


OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Nearly  all  grew  and  came  into  bearing,  but  only  three  of  these  proved 
to  be  of  the  true  "  Jordan"  type,  the  others  varying  greatly,  and  most 
of  them  proving  worthless. 

The  nuts  shown  on  PL  LXIII  are  from  one  of  these  trees  on  Mr. 
Rock's  grounds,  and  the  nuts  from  them  submitted  to  dealers  in 
Malaga,  through  United  States  Consul  Ridgely,  were  pronounced  the 
true  "Jordan"  type.  The  distinctive  characters  of  the  type  are  well 
shown  in  the  illustration.  Whether  more  than  a  single  variety  is 
marketed  under  this  name  yet  remains  to  be  determined.  The  name 
"Jordan"  has  been  supposed  by  some  to  be  a  corruption  from  the 
French  "  jardin,"  meaning  "garden,"  but  no  evidence  of  the  accuracy 
of  this  conclusion  has  been  discovered. 

The  Jordan  almond  a  seems  worthy  of  testing  in  the  milder  commer- 
cial almond  districts,  especially  in  those  where  late  spring  frosts  are 
of  rare  occurrence. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  long,  narrow,  but  plump,  distinctly  curved  along  the  ventral 
suture;  hull  thin,  downy,  loosening  readily  from  the  nut;  shell 
smooth,  dense,  hard,  and  thick,  with  a  very  smooth  inner  surface; 
kernel  long,  narrow,  smooth,  light  brown,  of  fine,  firm  texture  and 
delicate,  rich  flavor.  As  imported,  the  kernels  are  highly  esteemed  by 
confectioners  for  the  preparation  of  candies  and  "  salted "  almonds, 
the  prepared  kernels  usually  retailing  from  50  to  GO  cents  per  pound 
in  the  latter  form.  Mr.  Fairchild  states  that  the  various  grades  of 
kernels  are  designated  in  Spain  according  to  size  by  the  names  of 
animals,  such  as  "  donkeys," "horses,"  "-tigers,"  "lions,"  "elephants," 
and  "mammoths,"  the  "donkeys"  being  the  smallest  and  the  "mam- 
moths "  the  largest  grade.  The  sizes  are  separated  by  hand  picking. 

The  common  method  of  propagation,  as  observed  in  Spain  by  Mr. 
Fairchild,  is  to  bud  on  bitter  almond  seedlings  two  years  or  more  old, 
in  the  orchard  at  a  height  of  2  to  4  feet  from  the  ground.  Like  other 
almonds,  the  Jordan  blossoms  very  early  in  spring,  and  is  therefore 
susceptible  to  injury  by  late  spring  frosts.  Its  culture  will  therefore 
probably  be  limited  to  localities  specially  favored  in  this  respect.  It 
is,  presumably,  considerably  less  hardy  than  the  common  hard-shell 
almond  or  the  hardier  peaches. 


"For  a  fuller  account  of  this  almond  as  grown  in  Spain,  see  Bulletin  No.  26, 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  ''Spanish  almonds  and  their  intro- 
duction into  America. ' ' 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[REPRINT  FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1903.] 


35 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction 267 

Akin  apple '. 1 268 

Description - 269 

Terry  apple 270 

Description 271 

Hiley  peach 271 

Description 272 

Welch  peach 272 

Description 273 

Splendor  prune 274 

Description 275 

Sugar  prune 275 

Description 275 

Headlight  grape. 276 

Description 276 

Cardinal  strawberry 277 

Description 278 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

PLATE  XXXII.  Akin  apple 268 

XXXIII.  Terry  apple 270 

XXXIV.  Hiley  peach 270 

XXX  V.  Welch  peach 272 

XXX  VI.  Splendor  prune  and  Sugar  prune 274 

XXXVII.  Headlight  grape 276 

XXXVIII.  Cardinal  strawberry '. 276 

I1T 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

Notwithstanding1  the  very  strong  tendency  in  recent  j:ears  among 
commercial  fruit  growers  in  most  sections  to  restrict  their  plantings  to 
a  few  varieties  of  proved  productiveness,  beauty,  and  shipping  qual- 
ity, there  are  strong  indications  that  an  increasingly  large  number  of 
growers  are  seeking  fruits  that  combine  these  desirable  features  with 
distinctive  flavor  and  superior  dessert  qualit}r.  The  only  way  for  the 
individual  grower  to  keep  pace  with  progress  is  to  test  the.  more 
promising  kinds  of  the  fruits  in  which  he  is  specially  interested;  he 
can  thus  determine  at  small  cost  and  with  the  least  possible  delay 
whether  such  sorts  are  adapted  to  his  conditions  and  needs.  It  is  for 
growers  who  desire  to  test  such  fruits  that  the  series  of  descriptions 
and  illustrations  of  promising  new  varieties  published  in  the  Yearbook 
from  year  to  year  is  especially  intended.  It  is  believed  that  the  varie- 
ties included  represent  the  cream  of  the  new  sorts,  selected  with  due 
regard  to  their  adaptability  to  the  representative  fruit  regions  of  the 
country. 

The  easiest  and  quickest  method  of  testing  new  varieties  of  tree 
fruits  is  the  well-known  practice  of  top  working.  To  test  a  new  sort 
by  this  method  it  is  only  necessary  to  secure  a  scion  or  two  of  the 
desired  variety  for  budding  or  grafting  upon  an  established  tree  of 
I icaring  age  which  will  constitute  a  suitable  stock  for  the  varietj^  in 
question.  As  the  budding  or  grafting  of  a  single  branch  is  usually 
sufficient  for  the  preliminary  test,  a  single  established  tree  ma\'in  this 
way  be  made  to  carry  a  large  number  of  new  sorts.  This  plan  has 
the  further  advantage  of  concentrating  a  comprehensive  collection 
upon  a  small  area  of  ground,  and  thus  of  reducing  the  cost  of  the 
experimental  work  to  a  minimum.  To  the  amateur  fruit  grower  it 
makes  practicable  the  assembling  of  a  much  larger  collection  of  varie- 
ties within  the  confines  of  a  village  or  city  garden  than  would  otherwise 
be  possible,  and  permits  him  to  retain  his  touch  with  the  continuous 
progress  of  fruit  culture,  even  though  he  can  not  reside  upon  the  farm 
or  in  the  open  countiy. 

267 


268        YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

The  results  of  a  top-working  test  of  a  variety  should  never  be 
accepted  as  final,  however.  Not  infrequently  varieties  which  make 
strong  and  thrifty  growth  when  upon  vigorous,  well-established  stocks 
develop  weaknesses  of  root,  trunk,  or  foliage  when  grown  by  budding 
or  grafting  upon  the  miscellaneous  seedling  stocks  used  in  ordinary^ 
nursery  practice.  In  some  instances  these  defects  are  due  to  deficient 
vigor  or  too  slender  habit  of  growth;  in  others,  to  inherent  inability 
to  endure  extremes  of  temperature  or  to  resist  injurious  diseases  or 
insect  pests.  The  commercial  orchardist,  therefore,  who  desires  to 
keep  abreast  with  the  rapidly  advancing  tide  of  new  sorts  should  pro- 
vide at  the  outset  a  small  area  of  suitable  land  upon  which  he  can 
plant  from  time  to  time  two  or  more  3Toung  trees  of  each  new  sort  that 
gives  indication  of  commercial  value  for  his  section.  This  is  the  prac- 
tice now  adopted  by  some  of  the  most  progressive  commercial  growers, 
and  offers  many  advantages  over  the  old  way  of  planting  heavily  of 
new  sorts  untested  in  their  region,  many  of  which  were  destined  to 
failure  in  some  of  the  important  characteristics  that  go  to  make  up  a 
really  valuable  commercial  sort.  Such  a  tree  test  is  especially  impor- 
tant with  peaches  and  plums,  where  the  commercial  value  of  a  variety 
often  hinges  upon  the  cold  endurance  of  the  trunk  and  the  fruit  buds, 
or  the  exact  ripening  period  of  the  fruit  with  reference  to  older  sorts 
already  well  tested  in  the  region. 

AKIN    APPLE. 

(SYNONYMS:  Akin  Red;  Akin  Seedling;  Akof*  Seedling;  Aikin'a  Red;  Atken;  Aken — not 
"Akin's  Winter"  of  Downing,  which  is  a  crab  of  Minnesota  origin. ) 

[PLATE  XXXII.] 

This  promising  commercial  sort,  unlike  most  American  varieties  of 
winter  apples,  appears  to  have  been  grown  from  planted  seed.  The 
original  tree  was  grown  from  seed  brought  from  Tennessee  and 
planted  in  1831  by  Mrs.  Matthew  England,  near  Lawrenceville,  111., 
on  a  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  W.  J.  Akin.  Seventeen  trees  were 
grown  from  this  lot  of  seed,  but  only  the  one  described  was  considered 
worthy  of  naming  and  disseminating.  It  was  first  propagated  for 
planting  by  Mr.  John  Akin,  father  of  the  present  owner  of  the  farm, 
who  cut  scions  from  the  original  tree  for  grafting  in  the  nursery  in 
1861.  Twelve  of  the  trees  grown  in  that  year  are  still  standing  on 
the  Akin  farm.  It  was  first  propagated  for  sale  by  a  Mr.  Adams,  a 
nurseryman  in  Wabash  County,  111.,  in  1868/'  It  appears  to  have 
been  first  catalogued  in  1884,  by  Simpson  and  Hogue,  under  the  name 
Akin's  Red,  and  first  illustrated  in  their  catalogue  in  1885.6  In  Decem- 
ber, 1890,  it  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  W.  J.  Akin  at  the  annual  meeting 

« Letters  of  W.  J.  Akin,  Billett,  111.,  January,  1904. 
&  Letter  of  H.  M.  Simpson  &  Sons,  February  15,  1904. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1903. 


PLATE  XXXII. 


AKIN  APPLE. 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  269 

of  the  Illinois  State  Horticultural  Society"  at  Cairo,  and  was  awarded 
first  premium  both  as  " Seedling"  and  as  "New  variety,  good  enough 
to  be  recommended,"  by  a  committee  of  which  the  late  T.  T.  Lyon, 
of  Michigan,  was  chairman. 

The  attention  thus  called  to  the  variety  caused  it  to  be  generally 
propagated  by  the  nurseries  in  Illinois  and  nearby  States,  so  that  it 
was  quickly  given  wide  dissemination  throughout  the  Middle  West. 
It  has  now  been  fruited  in  several  States,  and  is  one  of  the  most  prom- 
ising of  the  recently  introduced  sorts  for  the  apple  grower  who  desires 
a  variety  well  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  fancy  fruit  trade  in  the 
larger  cities.  It  succeeds  well  in  the  Middle  West  and  in  the  winter 
apple  districts  of  the  Allegheny  Mountain  region,  and  is  worthy  of 
thorough  test  on  rich,  warm  soils  in  the  northern  apple  districts  from 
New  York  westward. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish,  slightly  ribbed;  size  medium;  surface  very  smooth 
and  glossy;  color  yellow,  washed  over  almost  the  entire  surface  with 
bright  crimson,  showing  some  indistinct  broad  and  broken  stripes  of 
dark  crimson,  sometimes  overspread  with  gray;  dots  numerous, 
variable,  but  usually  small,  light  russet  and  frequently  indented;  bloom 
whitish,  rarely  present  at  maturity  of  fruit;  cavity  of  medium  size 
and  depth  and  gradual  slope,  somewhat  furrowed  and  usually  dis- 
tinctly russeted;  stem  short  to  medium,  length  three-eighths  to  five- 
eighths  inch,  stout,  usually  down}r;  basin  small,  of  medium  depth  and 
slope,  slightly  corrugated;  cal}Tx  segments  long,  slender;  eye  small, 
closed;  skin  moderately  thick,  tenacious;  core  large,  roundish,  open, 
clasping  the  e}'e;  seeds  of  medium  size,  plump,  brown,  numerous,  10 
to  20;  flesh  yellowish,  moderately  fine  grained,  breaking  juicy;  flavor 
rather  mild  subacid,  quality  very  good.  Season,  December  to  April 
or  May;  fruit  enduring  cold  storage  exceptionally  well. 

The  tree  is  a  strong,  very  upright  grower,  needing  care  in  pruning 
to  give  the  head  sufficient  spread.  On  this  account  it  should  be 
grafted  low  when  used  for  top  working,  to  counteract  the  well-known 
tendency  of  top  grafts  to  run  up.  Though  not  so  precocious  as  some, 
the  tree  appears  to  be  a  regular  and  good  bearer,  yielding  a  heavy  crop 
of  fruit,  very  uniform  in  size  and  appearance  in  alternate  years,  with 
lighter  crops  in  the  off  years.  The  original  tree  in  Lawrence  County, 
111.,  stood  until  189T,  when  it  was  blown  down  by  a  storm. 

The  specimen  shown  on  PI.  XXXII  was  grown  in  "the  experimental 
orchard  of  the  late  W.  S.  Miller,  Gerrardstown,  W.  Va.,  in  the 
season  of  1901. 


40 

270         YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

TERRY    APPLE. 

(SYNONYMS:  Terry  Winter;  Terry's  Winter;  Terry  Winter  Pippin.) 
[PLATE  XXXIII.] 

In  the  gradual  extension  of  apple  culture  southward  from  the 
regions  where  this  popular  fruit  is  recognized  as  thoroughly  at  home 
arid  in  congenial  adjustment  with  climatic  conditions,  fruit  growers 
have  long  sought  for  varieties  that  would  at  the  same  time  endure 
long  summers  and  intermittent  winters  and  yield  fruit  that  would  be 
comparable  in  keeping  quality  with  that  of  the  more  northern  winter 
varieties  when  grown  in  their  native  climes.  A  few  early  sorts, 
particularly  those  of  Russian  origin-,  such  as  Red  Astrachan  and 
Oldenburg,  endure  Southern  conditions  well,  but  long-keeping  winter 
apples,  of  good  dessert  quality,  adapted  to  the  South,  are  few  in 
number.  Practically  all  that  are  now  grown  in  a  commercial  way  in 
the  Coastal  Plain  and  Piedmont  regions  of  the  South  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  States  are  of  American  origin,  most  of  them  tracing  to  origins 
below  latitude  37°  N.  Among  such  may  be  mentioned  Shockley, 
Yates,  and  Hall,  all  of  which  have  been  found  to  succeed  through  a 
wide  range  of  climatic  and  soil  conditions  in  the  South. 

Of  similar  character  and  very  promising  for  Southern  apple  growers 
is  the  Terry,  which  is  illustrated  on  PL  XXXIII.  This  variety 
appears  to  have  originated  as  a  seedling  on  the  farm  of  a  Mr.  Terrv, 
in  Fulton  County,  Ga.  Mr.  Terry  called  the  attention  of  a  nursery- 
man, the  late  James  Sneed,  of  Morrow,  Clayton  County,  Ga.,  to 
the  character  of  the  tree  and  fruit,  and  in  1868  Mr.  Sneed  cut  scions 
from  it  and  began  propagating  it  under  the  name  "Terry  Winter," 
planting  33  trees  of  the  variety  in  his  own  orchard. a 

In  188-i  Mr.  S.  M.  Wayman,  upon  settling  at  Pomona,  Ga.,  found 
trees  of  the  variety  in  a  local  nursery  there,  the  stock  of  which  had 
come  from  the  Sneed  nursery,  in  Clayton  County.  He  was  so  much 
pleased  with  the  variety  when  it  came  into  bearing  that  he  began 
propagating  it  on  an  extensive  scale,  both  for  planting  in  his  own 
commercial  orchard  and  for  sale  to  other  planters  under  the  name 
:c Terry  Winter  Pippin.'"6  In  1885  Mr.  W.  D.  Beatie  found  the 
variety  in  the  Cole  nursery  near  Atlanta,  which  he  bought  in  that  year. 
He  continued  to  propagate  it,  and  appears  to  have  been  the  first  to 
catalogue  it— about  1885  or  1886.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  very 
generally  disseminated  throughout  Georgia  and  neighboring  States. 
It  appears  worthy  of  general  testing,  both  as  a  commercial  variety  and 
for  the  family  orchard  throughout  the  South  and  in  similar  warm 
regions  where  good  keeping  sorts  of  fine  quality  are  few  in  number. 


"Letter  of  J.  C.  H.  Sneed,  January  7,  1904. 

&  Letters  of  H.  M.  Waynian,  December,  1899,  and  January,  1904. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1903. 


PLATE  XXXMI. 


TERRY  APPLE. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1903. 


PLATE  XXXIV. 


I»CC    BAlTiWOIlE 


HILEY  PEACH. 


PROMISING    NEW    FBI! ITS. 

Since  1892  the  Terry  has  been  listed  in  the  "Catalogue  of  fruits 
of  the  Georgia  State  Horticultural  Society"  for  culture  in  central 
Georgia,  having  been  added  to  the  catalogue  upon  the  recommendation 
of  the  late  Gustav  Speth,  then  horticulturist  of  the  Georgia  State 
experiment  station. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  to  roundish  oblique;  size  medium  or  slightly  below; 
surface  moderately  smooth;  color  yellow,  washed  with  mixed  red,  and 
brokenty  striped  and  splashed  with  crimson,  sometimes  partially  over- 
spread with  gray;  dots  numerous,  of  medium  size,  russet,  many 
aureole;  cavity  regular,  large,  deep,  abrupt,  marked  with  russet;  stem 
of  medium  length,  one-half  inch  to  1  inch,  slender;  basin  regular,  of 
medium  size,  deep,  abrupt,  furrowed;  calyx  large,  segments  converg- 
ing or  erect,  eve  large,  closed  or  partially  open;  skin  thick,  tenacious; 
core  conic,  oval,  clasping,  small,  slightly  open;  seeds  plump,  brown, 
of  medium  size,  10  in  number;  flesh  3rellow,  fine  grained,  crisp,  juicy; 
flavor  very  pleasant,  mild  subacid;  quality  good  to  very  good;  season 
midwinter  to  March  in  Spalding  County,  Ga. 

The  tree  is  of  slender,  upright  habit,  very  productive,  and  inclined 
to  overbear.  It  needs  thorough  pruning  and  cultivation  to  hold  the 
fruit  up  in  size.  The  specimens  illustrated  in  PI.  XXXIII  were 
grown  by  Wayman  and  Riegel,  Pomona,  Ga.,  in  1901. 

HILEY   PEACH. 

(SYNONYMS:  Hieley;  Early  Belle.) 
[PLATE  XXXIV.] 

One  of  the  most  promising  of  the  newer  varieties  of  the  Chinese 
Cling  group  of  peaches  is  the  Hiley.  This  variety  originated  on  the 
fruit  farm  of  Hiley  Brothers,  Fort  Valley,  Ga.  A  row  of  about  150 
seedlings  was  grown  by  them  from  mixed  seed  of  Elberta  and  Belle, 
planted  in  1889.  Of  these,  the  fruit  of  one  tree  which  bore  its  first 
fruit  in  1892  was  considered  desirable  for  market.  The  original  tree 
was  destroyed  by  borers  two  years  after  it  bore  its  first  crop  of  three 
peaches,  but  as  buds  had  already  been  cut  from  it  for  propagation  in 
orchard,  the  variety  was  preserved.  Mr.  R.  A.  Hile\T,  who  first  dis- 
covered its  value,  considers  it  a  seedling  of  Belle,  probably  crossed 
with  either  Tillotson  or  Alexander. 

The  variety  was  christened  "Early  Belle,"  and  the  fruit  was  at  first 
shipped  under  that  name,  but  the  name  was  later  changed  to  Hile}T, 
and  it  appears  to  have  been  first  catalogued  under  that  name  by  Mr. 
J.  H.  Hale,  in  1900. 

The  Hiley  has  been  heavil}T  planted  in  Georgia  as  a  commercial 
variety,  and  is  especially  commended  as  an  ear ly  sort  of  good  shipping 
quality  and  excellent  flavor.  It  appears  to  be  worthy  of  testing  in 


42 

272         YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

coDimercial  orchards  over  a  much  wider  area,  where  a  white-fleshed 
freestone,  ripening  earlier  than  Mountain  Rose,  is  desired. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish,  often  distinctly  conical;  size  medium  to  large;  sur- 
face smooth,  well  covered  with  soft,  short,  velvety  down;  color  creamy 
white,  with  a  bright  crimson  blush  on  the  side  exposed  to  the  sun; 
cavity  regular,  of  medium  size,  moderate  depth,  and  abrupt  slope; 
suture  shallow  except  near  cavity;  apex  usually  sharp  and  prominent; 
skin  rather  thin  and  moderately  tenacious;  stone  reddish,  oval,  long, 
sharply  pointed,  quite  smooth,  and  rather  small;  fltsh  creamy  white, 
usually  slightly  stained  with  red  both  near  skin  and  near  stone,  rather 
firm  though  quite  juicy;  flavor  slightly  subacid,  pleasant;  quality 
very  good  for  so  early  a  variety;  season  about  with  Tillotson,  June  15 
to  July  1  in  Houston  County,  Ga.  Reported  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Hale  to 
ripen  about  August  1  in  Connecticut. 

Tree  rather  slender  in  growth,  with  leaves  narrower  than  its  sup- 
posed parent,  Belle;  very  productive,  and  considered  equal  to  its 
supposed  parent  in  hardiness;  glands  reniform;  flowers  large. 

To  the  Hiley  was  awarded  the  Wilder  medal  of  the  American 
Pomological  Society  at  the  Boston  meeting  in  September,  1903,  upon 
the  recommendation  of  the  ad  interim  committee  of  awards,  as  a 
promising  new  variety. 

WELCH    PEACH. 
[PLATE  XXXV.] 

In  many  portions,  of  the  country,  where  the  climatic  conditions 
during  the  growing  season  favor  the  development  of  peaches,  the 
production  of  this  delicious  fruit  is  restricted  by  the  occurrence  of 
occasional  low  temperatures  in  winter.  This  is  especially  true  of 
important  districts  in  New  England,  New  York,  and  the  Lake  region, 
the  climate  of  which  is  favorable  to  peach  growing  if  good  varieties 
can  be  found  that  will  endure  occasional  minimum  temperatures  of 
—  10°  to  —15°  F.  in  December,  January,  or  February,  when  the  trees 
are  dormant.  The  earlier  commercial  orchards  of  those  regions  were 
planted  with  little  reference  to  the  fruit-bud  hardiness  of  the  varieties, 
the  most  popular  sorts  being  of  the  Crawford  and  Oldmixon  types. 
These  succeeded  well  in  favorable  seasons,  but  usually  failed  when 
minimum  temperatures  lower  than  —10°  F.  occurred.  The  general 
failure  of  these  varieties  to  produce  regular  crops  aroused  a  very 
general  interest  in  the  development  of  hardy  types  of  the  peach 
throughout  the  North  about  thirty  years  ago.  The  occurrence  of  low 
temperatures  over  wide  areas  during  the  winters  of  1872-73  and 
1874-75  brought  to  light  the  fact  that  one  of  the  types  most  resistant 
to  winter  cold  was  that  which  had  been  grown  both  in  the  form  of 
budded  trees  and  seedlings  for  many  years  in  different  sections  of 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dcpt.  of  Agriculture,  1903. 


PLATE  XXXV. 


3.    G.    PASSMORE 


WELCH  PEACH. 


43 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  273 

Connecticut,  New  York,  and  Michigan,  under  such  names  as  Connecti- 
cut. stunl.tjN  /,'//'.  Xuf[in\  J' ii  nt/  Lind,  Leopard,  (J»«n  <>f  s/,,I><t.  Sea- 
</r»r<?s  Smock,  6W,  and  IHW*  < '//  /'//.  The  place,  time,  and  source  of  the 
introduction  of  this  type  of  peach  to  America  are  as  yet  undetermined, 
but  it  was  frequently  found  to  endure  temperatures  that  destroyed 
the  fruit  buds  of  the  other  varieties  in  the  same  orchards,  and  thus 
achieved  marked  popularity  among  commercial  planters  in  the  regions 
mentioned.  The  form  of  the  type  that  had  long  been  perpetuated  by  a 
Mr.  Hill,  of  Chili,  Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  was  very  widely  propagated 
and  planted  under  the  name  "  Hiil/s  Chili"  and  soon  became  the 
leading  commercial  peach  of  the  most  northern  peach  districts.  This 
variety  or  type  reproduces  itself  .through  its  seedlings  quite  closely, 
and  for  a  number  of  }Tears  many  nurseries  in  Michigan  propagated 
their  stocks  of  it  for  sale  as  seedlings.  The  resulting  trees,  when  they 
came  into  bearing  in  the  orchards,  were  chiefly  of  the  "Chili"  type, 
though  several  wide  variations  in  color  of  flesh  and  time  of  ripen- 
ing have  come  to  notice,  several  of  which,  such  as  Lewis,  Brown, 
Early  Husted,  and  Early  Michigan,  have  been  named  and  propagated. 
Others,  like  Lafleur,  that  vary  but  slightly,  are  considered  sufficiently 
superior  to  the  parent  in  some  important  particulars  to  be  worthy  of  a 
distinct  name  and  place  in  the  orchards. 

The  variety  of  this  type  to  attain  commercial  notice  most  recently  in 
western  Michigan  is  the  Welch,  the  original  tree  of  which  was  received 
by  Mr.  Charles  B.  -Welch,  of  Douglas,  Mich.,  in  1880,  in  a  bundle  of 
25  seedling  "Chili,"  from  the  nearby  nurseiy  of  Walsh  and  Wrade. 
Of  these  25  seedlings,  all  proved  to  be  good  typical  "Chili"  except 
the  one  now  described,  and  one  other,  which  was  a  good  white- 
fleshed  freestone.  The  tree  of  the  Welch  ripened  its  fruit  noticeably 
later  than  the  Chili,  and  was  found  to  yield  fruit  of  superior  quality, 
as  well  as  to  be  less  subject  to  injury  by  curl-leaf  and  drought  than 
its  parent  and  equally  as  resistant  to  cold.  At  the  request  of  Mr. 
Welch,  a  few  trees  were  propagated  from  it  by  the  late  Mr.  James  F. 
Taylor,  of  Douglas,  Mich.,  about  1888  to  1890,  and  its  propagation 
and  planting  has  gradually  increased  in  western  Allegan  Count}T  since 
that  time.  It  is  considered  equal  to  its  parent  in  every  respect  and 
superior  in  habit  of  growth  of  tree,  ability  to  endure  drought  and 
resistance  to  curl-leaf  and  rot,  and  ripens  at  a  more  opportune  time, 
thus  lengthening  the  season  of  supply  of  hardy  varieties.  So  far  as 
known  it  has  not  been  fruited  in  other  States  than  Michigan,  but  is 
considered  worthy  of  test  throughout  northern  peach  districts. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish  to  slightly  obovate;  size  medium  to  large;  surface 
smooth,  very  slightly  downy,  color  rich,  rather  light  yellow,  with  a 
bright  blush  of  red  on  the  exposed  side;  c&vity  regular,  medium  in 


A  .4 
*5C^ 

274         YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

slope  and  depth;  suture  shallow  except  at  apex,  which  is  minute, 
rarely  projecting  beyond  the  suture;  skin  rather  thick  and  tenacious, 
slightly  acid;  stone  small  to  medium,  plump,  oval,  free;  flesh  light 
yellow",  quite  firm,  yet  melting  and  juicy;  flavor  sprightly  subacid  and 
vinous;  quality  good  to  very  good,  specially  adapted  to  shipment  and 
canning;  season  moderately  late,  a  few  days  after  Chili,  about  Septem- 
ber 20  to  30  in  Allegan  County,  Mich. 

Tree  a  vigorous  though  rather  slender,  upright  grower,  rooting 
more  deeply  than  Chili,  and  therefore  enduring  drought  better,  hardy 
and  regularly  productive;  leaf  glands  large,  numerous,  reniform; 
flowers  small. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  PL  XXXV  were  grown  by  the  late 
Mr.  James  F.  Taylor,  Douglas,  Mich.,  in  1903. 

SPLENDOR   PRUNE. 

[PLATE  XXXVI.] 

Among  the  prune  growers  of  the  Pacific  coast  the  desirability-  of  an 
earlier  and  larger  variety  of  plum  than  the  Agen  (synonyms,  Petite, 
French;  etc.)  suitable  for  curing  into  prunes  has  long  been  recognized. 
The  prune-growing  sections  of  the  Old  World,  especially  those  of 
France,  have  been  canvassed,  and  several  more  or  less  promising  sorts 
now  under  commercial  test  have  been  secured  within  the  past  ten 
years.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Luther  Burbank  has  been  at  work  upon  the 
problem  from  the  plant  breeder's  standpoint,  and  has  produced  at 
least  two  very  promising  varieties,  "Splendor"  and  " Sugar,"  which 
are  illustrated  in  PI.  XXXVI. 

Splendor  is  stated  by^  Mr.  Burbank  to  have  been  grown  from  seed 
of  the  Agen,  or  common  "  French  "  prune  of  California,  which  was 
first  introduced  to  California  from  France  in  the  form  of  scions 
brought  to  San  Jose  in  December,  1856,  by  Louis  and  Pierre  Pellier. 
It  was  the  result  of  a  cross  by  Pond  (synon}Tms,  Pond  Seedling, 
Hungarian  Prune,  Grosse  Prune  cTAgen,  etc.),  an  English  variety  of 
large  size  .that  has  long  been  grown  throughout  the  plum-growing 
districts  of  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States.  Splendor  was  first 
described  and  offered  for  sale  by  Mr.  Burbank  in  his  catalogue  of 
"New  creations  in  fruits  and  flowers"  for  1893.  where  it  was  pro- 
visionally listed  under  the  designation  "Crossbred  Prune  A.  P.-318." 
The  original  tree  and  the  right  to  propagate  and  introduce  the 
variety  were  purchased  of  Mr.  Burbank  soon  thereafter  by  the  Stark 
Brothers  Nurseries  and  Orchards  Company,  who  introduced  it  under 
the  name  "Splendor"  in  1894.  It  is  now  under  test  in  commercial 
orchards  throughout  the  Domestica  plum  districts  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  and  promises  well  as  a  shipping,  dessert,  and  curing 
plum. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1903. 


PLATE  XXXVI. 


•  SCO    BALTIMORE 


0.    G.    PASSMORE 


i.  SPLENDOR  PRUNE. 


2.  SUGAR  PRUNE. 


45 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  275 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  oblong  oval  to  obovate,  with  a  rather  distinct  neck;  size 
medium  to  large;  cavity  regular,  small,  shallow;  stem  medium  to 
long;  suture  shallow,  except  near  apex;  apex  very  slightly  depressed; 
surface  smooth,  glossy,  purplish  red,  with  minute  russet  dots  and 
covered  with  a  rather  profuse  bluish  bloom;  skin  moderately  thick 
and  tenacious,  slightly  acid;  stone  small  to  medium,  long,  oval,  free; 
flesh  yellowish,  translucent,  with  light  veins,  of  meaty  texture;  flavor 
sweet  and  rich;  quality  very  good;  season  about  a  week  earlier  than 
Agen  in  Sonoma  County,  Cal. 

The  tree  is  described  by  Mr.  Burbank  as  resembling  its  female 
parent  in  general  appearance,  with  more  sturdy  branches,  abundantly 
vigorous  and  productive.  The  fruit  hangs  long  to  the  tree,  and 
objection  to  it  has  on  this  account  been  made  by  some  prune  growers, 
as  it  renders  picking  of  the  fruit  from  the  tree  necessary  instead  of 
shaking  it  to  the  ground.  This  characteristic  should  commend  it  to 
Eastern  growers  in  sections  where  occasional  high  winds  at  ripening 
time  damage  the  crop  by  shaking  oif  and  bruising. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  PI.  XXXVI  was  grown  by  Mr.  Leonard 
Coates,  at  Napa,  Cal.,  in  1902. 

SUGAR   PRUNE. 

[PLATE  XXXVI.] 

This  very  promising  seedling  of  Agen  (synonyms,  Petite,  French^ 
etc.)  is  not  known  to  be  the  result  of  a  cross  with  any  other  variety. 
It  gives  every  indication  of  surpassing  its  parent  in  all  the  qualities 
that  go  to  make  up  a  first-class  drying  prune,  being  equal  in  all 
observed  characteristics  and  superior  in  sweetness,  size,  earliness  of 
ripening,  and  rapidity  of  curing. 

The  variety  was  named  by  Mr.  Burbank,  and  appears  to  have  been 
described  first  by  the  late  B.  M.  Lelong  in  the  preliminary  report  of 
the  California  State  board  of  horticulture  for  1897-1898.  It  was 
introduced  by  Mr.  Burbank  in  the  form  of  scions  for  grafting  and  a 
few  two-year-old  trees  on  peach  roots  in  1899.  On  account  of  its 
earliness,  it  quickly  assumed  commercial  importance  in  the  California 
prune  districts,  and  has  been  top  grafted  on  other  prunes  and  on 
almonds  to  the  extent  of  hundreds  of  acres  in  that  State  and  in  Oregon. 
Its  behavior  thus  far  marks  it  as  the  most  promising  curing  prune  yet 
brought  to  notice. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong  to  oval  oblong  or  obovate;  size  medium  to  large  (very 
large  for  the  Agen  class);  cavity  regular,  medium  in  size,  depth,  and 
slope;  stem  short,  rather  slender,  loosening  easily  when  ripe;  suture 
shallow,  extending  from  cavity  to  apex;  apex  depressed;  surface 


'6        YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

smooth,  dark  purplish  red  with  minute  russet  dots  and  rather  slight 
bluish  bloom;  skin  moderately  thick,  tenacious;  stone  medium  to 
large,  oval,  cling;  flesh  yellowish,  translucent,  meaty,  moderately 
juicy;  flavor  very  sweet  and  rich;  quality  very  good.  Season  about 
three'  to  four  weeks  earlier  than  Agen  in  Sonoma  County,  Cal.  The 
tests  made  by  the  chemist  of  the  experiment  station  of  California 
show  this  variety  to  be  distinctly  richer  in  sugar  than  Agen,  while 
practical  tests  on  a  large  scale  have  demonstrated  its  quick-curing 
character.  Its  large  size  (the  dried  fruit  running  20  to  30  to  the 
pound)  renders  it  popular  with  consumers.  On  account  of  its  earli- 
ness,  it  is  considered  especially  promising  for  the  prune  districts  of  the 
Pacific  Northwest,  where  untimely  rains  not  infrequently  interfere 
with  the  curing  of  the  later  varieties. 

The  tree  is  a  more  vigorous  grower  than  its  parent  and  a  heavy 
bearer.  It  is  considered  by  the  originator  to  be  less  subject  to  injury 
by  spring  frosts  than  the  parent  variety. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  PL  XXXVI  were  grown  by  Mr. 
Burbank  on  his  trial  grounds  at  Sebastopol,  Cal. ,  in  the  season  of  1 900. 

HEADLIGHT   GRAPE. 

[PLATE  XXXVIL] 

One  of  the  things  long  desired  by  Southern  fruit  growers  is  a  good 
table  grape,  sufficiently  resistant  to  leaf  and  fruit  diseases  to  endure 
the  climatic  conditions  of  their  section.  Many  varieties  have  been 
brought  forward  from  time  to  time;  but  of  the  older  sorts  especially 
adapted  to  table  use  not  one,  either  foreign  or  native,  has  yet  proved 
-successful  over  any  large  area.  One  of  the  most  promising  recent 
introductions  in  this  field  is  the  Kteadlight,  which  was  originated  by 
Prof.  T.  V.  Munson,  of  Denison,  Tex.,  in  1895.  It  is  reported  by  the 
originator  to  be  a  seedling  of  Moyer — the  result  of  a  cross  of  Brilliant 
upon  the  former  variety.  Its  desirable  qualities  of  vigorous  growth, 
disease-resistant  foliage,  productiveness,  and  early  ripening  render  it 
worthy  of  thorough  testing  throughout  the  South. 

It  appears  to  have  been  described  first  by  Professor  Munson  in 
the  Catalogue  of  the  Texas  State  Horticultural  Society  for  1899  in  a 
tabular  list  of  promising  varieties  not  yet  introduced.  It  was  first 
disseminated  commercially  by  the  originator  in  1901-1902. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Cluster  cylindrical,  small  to  medium,  averaging  about  equal  to  Del- 
aware, very  compact  and  usually  shouldered;  berry  small  to  medium, 
round,  adhering  firmly  to  pedicel;  color  dark  red,  covered  with 
bluish  bloom;  skin  moderately  thick  and  tough,  enduring  handling 
without  injury;  pulp  translucent,  green,  tender,  juicy;  seeds  few, 
small  to  medium;  flavor  very  pleasant,  sprightly  and  vinous,  without 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1903 


PLATE  XXXVII. 


HEADLIGHT  GRAPE. 


G.    PASSMORE 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1903. 


PLATE  XXXVIII. 


CARDINAL  STRAWBERRY. 


D.   G.   PASSMORE 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  277 

foxiness;  quality  very  good;  season  very  early,  ripening  with  Champion, 
and  hanging  long  on  the  vine  without  deterioration  in  attractiveness  or 
quality.  It  is  also  considered  promising  as  a  wine  grape  for  the  South. 

The  vine  is  vigorous,  short  jointed,  and  very  productive,  and  so  far 
a-  toted  distinctly  resistant  to  cold,  having  endured  —15°  F.  at 
Denison,  Tex.,  without  injury. 

The  specimen  cluster  illustrated  on  PL  XXXVII  is  rather  below 
tiie  characteristic  size.  It  was  grown  in  the  vineyard  of  Prof.  T.  V. 
Munson,  at  Denison,  Tex.,  in  1903. 

CARDINAL   STRAWBERRY. 

[PLATE  XXXVIII.] 

Since  Hoveygaveto  the  world  his  famous  "Hovey  Seedling"  straw- 
berry in  183-t,  there  has  been  an  almost  unbroken  succession  of  new 
sorts  of  this  popular  fruit.  Differing  widely  as  these  varieties  do  in 
their  important  characteristics,  it  is  now  very  generally  agreed  among 
fruit  growers  that  no  one  variety  has  yet  been  produced  or  is  likely 
to  be  developed  that  will  excel  all  others  in  all  the  qualities  that  go 
to  make  up  a  desirable  variet3r.  The  highest  flavor  and  adaptability  to 
culinary  use  are  rarely  found  in  the  same  sort,  while  ability^  to  endure 
shipment  well  is  still  less  frequently  encountered  in  productive  sorts 
of  good  color,  size,  and  flavor.  The  varieties  of  greatest  commercial 
importance  at  present  are  doubtless  those  that  combine  in  largest 
degree  fair  size  and  productiveness  with  firm  texture,  attractive  color, 
symmetrical  form,  good  flavor,  opportune  season  of  ripening,  and 
adaptability  to  a  wide  range  of  climatic  conditions. 

One  of  the  most  promising  of  the  recently  originated  varieties  that 
are  now  being  tested  in  various  sections  is  the  Cardinal,  which  is 
illustrated  in  PL  XXXVIII.  This  variety  traces  to  one  of  a  number 
of  seedlings  discovered  by  Mr.  George  <L  Streator,  of  Garrettsville, 
Ohio,  in  1896,  in  a  portion  of  his  vegetable  garden  where  strawberries 
had  previously  been  grown.  These  little  seedling  plants  were  carefully 
transplanted  to  a  location  where  they  could  be  brought  into  fruiting, 
and  were  held  under  observation  for  two  years.  The  one  afterward 
named  ""Cardinal"  was  from  the  start  noticeably  superior  to  the  others 
in  vigor  of  growth  and  healthiness  of  foliage,  and  when  fruited  was 
found  to  yield  a  good  crop  of  very  desirable  berries.  After  several 
years  of  observation  of  its  behavior,  the  originator  secured  plants  of 
about  40  leading  varieties  and  planted  a  trial  bed  for  comparison,  in 
which  the  Cardinal  was  found  by  capable  judges  in  1903  to  surpass 
them  all  in  vigor,  productiveness,  and  other  important  market  qual- 
ities on  the  clay  loam  soil  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  where  the  test  was 
made.  It  is  considered  well  worthy  of  testing  by  commercial  growers 
throughout  the  country. 


278  .^^ARTO^R^THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form,  roundish  or  roundish  conical,  occasionally  slightly  compressed 
and  broadened,  rarely  necked;  size,  medium  to  large;  surface,  glossy, 
bright  crimson,  not  fading;  ripening  evenly;  seeds,  small  and  mostly 
depressed;  calyx,  large,  tenacious,  pale  green;  flesh,  quite  firm  and 
solid,  salmon  red,  juicy,  but  apparently  of  good  shipping  quality; 
flavor  subacid,  sprightly,  with  distinct  aroma;  quality,  good  to  very 
good,  especially  for  canning;  season,  medium  to  late,  closely  following 
Bubach,  about  the  first  week  in  June  in  Portage  County,  Ohio. 

The  plant  is  pronounced  a  very  vigorous  grower,  with  foliage  resist- 
ant to  rust,  and  an  abundant  plant  maker.  The  blossoms  are  imperfect. 
The  fruit  is  borne  on  strong  trusses  and  the  variety  is  reported  to  be 
enormously  productive. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  PI.  XXXVIII,  reduced  to  four-fifths 
diameter,  were  grown  by  the  originator,  Mr.  George  J.  Streator,  at 
Garrettsville,  Ohio,  in  1903. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau,  of  Plant  Industry. 


[REPRINT  FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1904.] 


IM 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Introduction 399 

Bloomfield  apple 399 

Doctor  apple 400 

Rossney  pear -  -  402 

Millennial  grape 403 

Perfection  currant " 404 

Delmas  persimmon 404 

Pecans 405 

Centennial  pecan 407 

Frotscher  pecan 408 

Jewett  pecan 409 

Pabst  pecan 410 

Post  pecan , 411 

Rome  pecan 41 1 

Russell  pecan 412 

San  Saba  pecan 413 

Stuart  pecan 414 

Van  Deman  pecan 415 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

PLATE  L.  Bloomfield  apple 400 

LI.  Doctor  apple 400 

LII.  Rossney  pear 402 

LIU.  Millennial  grape 402 

LIV.  Perfection  currant 404 

LV.  Delmas  persimmon 404 

LVI.  Pecan  varieties— San  Saba,  Centennial,  Jewett,  Frotscher,  Pabst 412 

LVII.  Pecan  varieties— Post,  Van  Deman,  Russell,  Stuart,  Rome 412 

Ji 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 

r.y  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

So  long  as  improvement  of  fruits  continues,  whether  through  chance 
variation  or  through  systematic  selection  and  breeding,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary for  the  progressive  fruit  grower  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  advances 
that  are  being  made  along  the  particular  lines  in  which  he  is  interested. 
The  largest  profits  in  commercial  fruit  growing  not  infrequently  result 
from  judicious  planting  of  comparatively  new  varieties  which  have 
shown  strong  indications  of  adaptability  to  particular  regions  or  to 
special  uses  before  either  of  these  points  has  been  fully  established  by 
actual  experience.  It  is  the  purpose  of  the  series  of  Yearbook  papers 
to  which  the  present  article  belongs a  to  direct  the  attention  of  fruit 
growers  to  some  of  those  new  or  little-known  varieties  of  important 
fruits  which  appear  worthy  of  testing  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

BLOOMFIELD   APPLE. 

(SYNONYMS:  Bentley1  s  Seedling,  Bloomfield  Bentley.) 

[PLATE  L.] 

This  very  promising  autumn  variety  for  the  home  orchard  and 
near-by  market  originated  as  a  chance  seedling  which  came  into 
bearing  about  1880  at  Bloomfield,  the  farm  of  the  late  Richard  T. 
Bentle}',  of  Sandy  Spring,  Montgomery  County,  Md.  Its  fruit  was 
found  to  be  so  excellent  in  quality,  as  well  as  so  handsome  in  appear- 
ance, that  it  was  quite  widely  disseminated  throughout  Montgomery 
and  Prince  George  counties,  Md.,  by  top  grafting  trees  in  established 
orchards.  Soon  thereafter  it  was  commercially  propagated  by  the  late 
Chalkley  Gillingham,  of  Accotink,  Fairfax  County,  Va.,  and  other 
local  nurserymen  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  so  that  it  is  now  quite 
widely  disseminated  through  the  family  orchards  of  the  Potomac  River 
counties  of  both  States.  Prior  to  1894  it  was  known  as  "Beniley's 
.v  ,  /////^/,?'  but  the  attention  of  Mr.  John  C.  Bentley,  the  present  owner 
of  the  farm  on  which  the  variety  originated,  having  been  called  to  the 

<*  See  Yearbooks  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1901  (p.  381),  1902  (p.  469), 
and  1903  (p.  267). 

399 


52 

400         YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

close  similarity  of  this  name  to  "  Bentley  Sweet,"  an  old  established 
variety  with  which  it  was  in  danger  of  being  confused  by  the  public, 
he  consented  to  the  adoption  of  the  name  "Bloomfield  (Bentley}," 
under  which  it  was  described  in  the  Report  of  the  Pomologist  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  for  that  year  (p.  17). 

The  variety  bears  a  group  resemblance  to  the  "  English  Red  Streak  " 
of  the  Middle  Atlantic  States,  and  is  probably  a  seedling  of  that  sort. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish  or  broadly  cylindrical,  truncate;  size  large;  surface 
smooth;  color  yellowish,  washed  with  crimson,  striped  with  darker  red 
and  overspread  with  gray;  dots  conspicuous,  sometimes  triangular, 
protruding,  russet,  some  having  dark  centers;  cavity  angular,  large, 
deep,  abrupt;  stem  short,  rather  stout,  often  knobbed;  basin  wide, 
deep,  abrupt,  furrowed  and  slightly  leather-cracked;  calyx  segments 
short  to  medium, -sometimes  reflexed;  eye  large,  open;  skin  thin, 
tough;  core  of  medium  size,  conical,  clasping;  seeds  few,  plump, 
brown;  flesh  yellow,  with  a  darker  core  line,  moderately  fine,  tender, 
juicy;  flavor  subacid,  rich;  quality  good  to  very  good  for  both  dessert 
and  culinary  use.  Season,  September  to  November  in  Montgomery 
County,  Md. 

Tree  a  rather  stocky  and  vigorous  grower,  requiring  strong  soil, 
and  an  abundant  annual  bearer.  This  variety  has  for  a  number  of 
years  proved  to  be  one  of  the  best  apples  of  its  season  in  the  Wash- 
ington markets,  and  is  worthy  of  wider  dissemination  both  for  home 
use  and  market. 

The  specimen  illustrated  was  grown  by  Mr.  Thomas  O.  Duvall, 
Spencerville,  Montgomery  County,  Md. 

DOCTOR  APPLE. 

(SYNONYMS:  American  Nonpareil  of  Mease  and  Thacher,  but  not  of  Coxe  or  Downing; 
Dewitt,  Doctor  Dewitt,  Red  Doctor,  Newby, ) 

[PLATE  LI.] 

Though  included  in  Mease's  list  of  "  Apples  most  commonly  culti- 
vated"0 in  the  United  States  a  century  ago,  the  real  merit  of  this 
variety  appears  to  entitle  it  to  a  place  among  the  promising  sorts 
throughout  a  wide  range  of  climate.  The  fact  that  Mease,  in  the  first 
published  description  of  the  variety,  above  cited,  appears  to  have  con- 
fused it  with  American  Nonpareil,  a  summer  apple,  possibly  accounts 
in  part  for  the  long  period  of  obscurity  from  which  it  now  appears  to 
be  emerging.  Most  of  the  early  American  writers  mention  it,  but  in 
several  instances  it  is  doubtful  whether  they  were  familiar  with  the 

«Willich's  Domestic  Encyclopedia,  first  American  edition;  with  additions,  by 
James  Mease,  M.  D.,  Philadelphia,  1804.  Vol.  Ill,  p.  111. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,     1904 


PLATE  L. 


BLOOMFIELD  APPLE 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,     1904. 


PLATE  LI. 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  401 

true  sort,  which  evidently  possesses  high  merit  in  several  important 
points,  and  gives  evidence  of  becoming  a  popular  variety. 

Its  rediscovery,  after  remaining  practically  an  unknown  sort  except 
in  a  few  widely  scattered  localities,  is  due  to  Mr.  Thomas  T.  Newby, 
of  Carthage,  Ind.  Mr.  New  by 's  father  grafted  a  tree  with  scions-  from 
a  tree  of  unknown  identity  in  an  orchard  in  that  vicinity  in  1854,  and 
some  twenty  years  later  Mr.  Newby  himself  grafted  a  small  seedling 
tree  of  the  same  variety.  Being  impressed  with  the  beauty,  symmetry, 
and  uniform  size  of  the  fruit,  which  he  found  to  be  of  fair  dessert 
quality,  Mr.  Newby,  who  had  supposed  it  a  well-known  old  variety, 
became  convinced  of  its  value  when  he  found  that  the  severe  winter  of 
1880-81,  which  nearly  ruined  the  orchards  in  his  section,  did  not  injure 
it.  He  then  undertook  to  ascertain  its  identity,  submitting  specimens 
to  experts  and  exhibiting  the  variety  at  State  and  other  fairs  repeatedly 
with  this  end  in  view.  These  efforts  having  failed,  a  committee  of  the 
Indiana  Horticultural  Society  in  1894,  in  commending  its  excellence, 
published  it  in  the  report  of  the  society  for  that  37ear  under  the  name 
"Newby,"  and  it  was  described  under  that  name  in  the  Report  of  the 
Pomologist  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  for  that  year. 

During  the  summer  of  1900,  among  the  old  varieties  which  reached 
the  Department  were  some  specimens  of  Doctor  from  Mr.  D.  C. 
Boring,  of  Thornville,  Ohio,  and  it  was  through  these  that  the  identity 
of  Mr.  Xewbv's  apple  was  established.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Newby  had 
in  the  autumn  of  1899  forwarded  for  exhibition  in  the  American  fruit 
exhibit  at  the  Paris  Exposition  during  the  summer  of  1900,  a  quantity 
of  specimens  of  the  variety,  which  attracted  much  attention  "by  their 
symmetrical  form  and  beautiful  color.  Scions  were  distributed  by  the 
Department  in  1895  to  a  number  of  State  experiment  stations  and  indi- 
vidual growers  throughout  the  more  important  northern  apple  districts, 
and  from  its  behavior  during  the  past  four  years  it  is  considered  well 
worthy  of  experimental  planting  for  special  markets  from  Maryland 
northward  to  Maine  and  westward  to  Lake  Michigan.  While  not  of 
the  highest  dessert  quality,  it  is  superior  in  this  respect  to  a  number  of 
the  standard  commercial  sorts  and  in  beauty  is  surpassed  by  none. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  oblate  or  roundish  oblate,  sometimes  slightly  oblique;  size 
uniformly  large;  surf  ace  very  smooth,  glossy  at  ripening  time,  becom- 
ing very  oily  when  stored  under  ordinary  cellar  or  warehouse  condi- 
tions; color  a  rich  yellow,  lightly  washed  with  mixed  red  and 
indistinctly  striped  and  splashed  with  crimson;  dots  scattering,  russet, 
occasionally  aureole;  cavity  regular,  large,  deep,  with  gradual  slope, 
somewhat  russeted;  stem  short,  rather  stout;  basin  regular,  large, 
deep,  furrowed  and  downy;  calyx  segments  medium,  converging, 
1234  A1904 26 


'?02         YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

sometimes  reflexed;  eyje  large,  usually  open;  skin  thick,  tenacious; 
core  medium,  oblate  conical,  open,  clasping;  seeds  numerous,  plump, 
brown;  flesh  yellowish,  moderately  fine,  breaking,  juicy;  flavor  sub- 
acid,  pleasant;  quality  good  to  very  good.  Season,  October  to  Janu- 
ary in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  keeping  well  in  cold  storage. 

The  tree  is  a  stocky  grower,  making  a  rather  upright  head,  and  is  a 
regular  bearer  of  good  crops. 

The  specimen  illustrated  was  grown  by  Mr.  D.  C.  Boring,  of  Thorn- 

ville,  Ohio. 

ROSSNEY   PEAR. 

[PLATE  LIL]  - 

It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  a  much  larger  proportion  of  pear  than  of 
apple  varieties  that  have  attained  important  commercial  rank  in 
America  are  of  European  origin.  In  fact,  outside  of  American 
varieties  of  the  Oriental  class,  such  as  Le  Con^e,  Kieffer,  and  Garber, 
very  few  American  pears  have  become  important  in  a  commercial 
way.  One  of  the  most  promising  recent  candidates  for  favor  in  this 
respect  is  the  Rossney.  According  to  the  introducers,  this  variety 
originated  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  from  a  mixed  lot  of  Winter  Nelis 
and  Bartlett  seed  planted  for  stocks  by  William  Woodberry  in  1881 
or  1882.  The  peculiarly  strong  and  vigorous  growth  of  one  of  the 
trees  and  the  distinctness  of  its  foliage  and  wood  caused  the  owner  to 
save  it  when  the  rest  of  the  seedlings  were  budded.  It  bore  its  first 
fruit  at  the  age  of  5  years  and  was  propagated  from  in  a  small  way 
by  the  owner  shortly  thereafter  for  his  own  planting  under  the  name 
"  Woodberry  Seedling."  The  original  tree  was  sold  by  Mr.  Wood- 
berry  in  1891  to  the  Pioneer  Nurseries  Company  of  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  who  named  the  variety  "Rossney"  in  honor  of  Mr.  William  E. 
Rossney,  of  Bloomington,  111.,  and  introduced  it  in  1898.  From 
observation  of  its  behavior  in  several  States  since  that  time  it-is  con- 
sidered a  promising  variety  for  the  commercial  planter  throughout  the 
Northern  and  Middle  States  where  Bartlett  and  similar  varieties  succeed. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  oval  py  riform,  somewhat  angular  and  ribbed  toward  the  apex; 
size  large,  surface  undulating  and  somewhat  un  ven;  color  golden  yel- 
low, blushed  with  scarlet  and  thinly  overspread  with  a  bluish  white 
bloom;  dots  numerous,  minute,  russet,  indented;  cavity  regular,  of 
medium  slope  and  depth;  stem  rather  long,  moderately  stout;  basin 
regular,  small,  abrupt,  shallow;  eye  small,  closed;  skin  thin,  tenacious; 
core  oval,  medium  in  size,  meeting  the  eye;  seeds  few,  mall,  brown; 
flesh  yellowish,  buttery,  juicy;  flavor  mild  subacid;  quality  good  to 
very  good.  Season  about  ten  days  later  than  Bartlett. 

The  original  tree  is  a  strong  and  vigorous  grower,  erect  in  habit, 
and  thus  far  free  from  blight,  and  the  young  trees  now  in  orchards 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1904. 


PLATE  LEL 


ROSSNEY  PEAR. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept  of  Agriculture,   1904. 


PLATE  Llll. 


MILLENNIAL  GRAPE. 


55 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  403 

through  the  Eastern  States  are  also  reported  free  from  blight  injury 
up  to  this  date,  although  in  localities  where  the  disease  is  present. 

1  he  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  LII  was  grown  at  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah. 

MILLENNIAL   GRAPE. 

(SYNONYMS:  Hungarian  Millennium,  Ezereves  Magyarorsz&g  Emleke  of  Hungarian  nurs- 
eries.) 

[PLATE  Lin.] 

New  varieties  of  the  Vinif  era  class  of  grapes  which  differ  sufficiently 
from  existing  sorts  to  warrant  introduction  and  naming  are  now  of  rare 
occurrence.  In  fact,  the  limit  of  variation  along  desirable  lines  except 
through  hybridization  with  other  species  of  grapes  appears  to  have  been 
nearly  reached.  It  is,  therefore,  worthy  of  note  that  a  variety  recently 
originated  in  Hungary,  which  was  introduced  into  this  country  in  1897, 
in  the  form  of  cuttings  received  from  Mr.  Sigmund  Katona,  of  Kecske- 
met, Hungary,  possesses  characteristics  which  mark  it  as  an  apparent 
exception  to  the  general  rule.  This  variety,  which,  according  to  its 
originator,  is  the  result  of  a  cross  between  Chasselas  Dore  (synonym 
Queen  Victoria  White)  and  Calabre,  was  grown  by  Mr.  Johann  Mathiasz, 
of  Kecskemet,  from  seed  planted  in  1887.  It  was  named  in  1896  in 
honor  of  the  millennial  of  the  establishment  of  the  Hungarian  Govern- 
ment, which  was  then  being  celebrated.  The  points  of  special  excellence 
claimed  by  the  originator  are  the  strength,  vigor,  and  productiveness 
of  the  vine  and  the  exceptional  beauty,  fine  flavor,  and  excellent  keep- 
ing and  shipping  quality  of  the  fruit. 

Its  record  in  Napa  County,  Cal.,  where  it  has  been  fruited  on  grafted 
vines  since  1899,  bears  out  these  claims  in  large  degree,  and  indicates 
that  it  is  especially  promising  as  a  table  grape  of  high  quality,  as  well 
as  adapted  to  the  making  of  high  grade  white  wine. 

The  following  field  characterization  of  the  variet}r  is  based  upon 
specimens  grown  by  the  late  Prof.  George  Husmann,  of  Napa,  Cal., 
who  was  the  first  to  fruit  and  report  upon  the  variety  in  America,  so 
far  as  known. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Bunch  medium  to  large,  compact,  shouldered;  berries  large,  round, 
resembling  Malaga  in  shape  and  size;  color  yellowish  white  with  a 
brownish  blush  on  sunny  side;  skin  transparent,  thin,  but  tough;  flesh 
quite  tender  and  juic}T,  having  a  very  sweet,  pure  flavor;  seeds  few; 
quality  very  good,  keeping  and  enduring  shipment  well.  Season, 
September,  in  Napa  County,  Cal. 

Vine  a  strong  grower,  with  close  joints;  apparently  well  adapted  to 
close  or  stool  pruning;  very  productive,  showing  after  the  first  crop 
an  abundant  second  crop  of  good-sized  bunches  and  berries;  leaf  large 
and  heavy,  heartshaped,  not  lobed. 


*404         YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

As  it  is  a  pure  Vinifera  it  is,  of  course,  unlikely  to  succeed  outside 
of  the  recognized  districts  where  that  species  can  be  profitably  grown. 

The  cluster  illustrated  on  Plate  LIII  was  grown  by  Mr.  Fred.  L. 
Husmann,  Rutherford,  Cal. 

PERFECTION   CURRANT. 

[PLATE  LIV.] 

This  variety  was  originated  by  Mr.  C.  G.  Hooker,  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  from  seed  of  the  Fay,  the  blossoms  of  which  were  crossed  with 
White  Grape  in  the  spring  of  1887.  It  was  the  best  of  a  lot  of  25 
seedlings  of  same  parentage,  and  after  being  held  under  observation 
by  the  originator  for  several  years,  was  first  propagated  for  experi- 
mental distribution  about  1895.  Its  value  having  been  satisfactorily 
established  through  several  years  of  comparative  tests  beside  other 
varieties,  and  after  critical  examination  for  three  years  by  a  committee 
of  the  Western  New  York  Horticultural  Society,  it  was  awarded  the 
Barry  gold  medal  of  that  society  in  1901  for  a  new  fruit  of  superior 
merit.  It  was  commercially  introduced  by  Messrs.  C.  M.  Hooker  & 
Sons,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1902,  and  has  been  favorably  reported 
upon  by  experiment  stations  and  growers  in  several  of  the  Northern 
and  Eastern  States. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Cluster  long,  cylindrical,  tapering  but  slightly,  with  a  long  stem; 
berries  spherical,  uniformly  large,  adhering  tenaciously  to  the  short, 
stout  pedicels;  color  bright  crimson;  skin  thin,  moderately  tough; 
flesh  tender,  translucent,  juicy;  seeds  medium  in  size  and  number; 
flavor  sprightly  subacid;  quality  good  to  very  good,  both  for  dessert 
use  in  the  fresh  state  and  for  cooking. 

Bush  a  moderately  strong  grower  with  good  foliage;  bears  its  fruit 
chiefly  on  the  old  wood  like  its  staminate  parent,  the  White  Grape. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LIV  were  grown  by  Mr.  C.  G. 
Hooker  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

DELMAS   PERSIMMON. 

[PLATE  LV.] 

The  native  persimmon  of  the  Southern  and  Eastern  States,  Diospy- 
ros  virginiana,  ha  <  but  recently  begun  to  receive  the  attention  of  cul- 
tivators, although  wild  trees  yielding  fruit  of  exceptionally  fine  quality 
or  possessing  other  important  characteristics,  have  long  been  known  to 
individuals  in  many  portions  of  its  range.  In  fact,  until  its  larger 
fruited  relative  the  kaki,  or  Japanese  persimmon,  was  introduced  and 
fruited  in  many  parts  of  the  South  the  intrinsic  merit  of  the  native 
specios,  and  its  inherent  value  as  a  fruit  possessing  large  capabilities  of 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept  of  Agriculture,   1904. 


PLATE  LIV. 


r  »«nLHCL*S   UTMO  ft  »fO  CO.MX 


PERFECTION  CURRANT. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1904. 


PLATE  LV. 


DELMAS  PERSIMMON. 


57 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  405 

improvement  through  selection  of  wild  varieties  already  existing,  seems 
to  have  been  overlooked.  Attention  has  been  called  to  several  choice 
varieties,  in  the  reports  of  the  Pomologist  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture from  time  to  time,  especially  to  Early  Golden,  Golden  Gem, 
and  Marion.  At  the  present  time  not  fewer  than  35  varieties  have 
received  names  and  are  being  grown  in  an  experimental  way. 

One  of  the  best  of  these  varieties  that  have  reached  the  office  of  the 
Pomologist  is  the  Delmas,  a  native  seedling  on  the  grounds  of  Mr. 
A.  G.  Delmas,  of  Scranton,  Miss.,  who,  after  observing  its  superior 
quality  for  some  twenty  years,  planted  26  suckers  from  it  in  orchard 
form  in  a  suitable  location  on  his  place  in  1899.  These  trees,  which 
were  in  bearing  in  1902,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  writer  in 
November  of  that  year  by  their  good  size,  handsome  appearance,  and 
fine  quality.  Later  Mr.  Delmas  furnished  the  Department  scions  for 
experimental  distribution,  so  that  the  variety  is  now  under  test  in  sev- 
eral localities. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oblate;  size  medium  to  large;  surface  smooth;  color 
reddish  yellow,  covered  with  a  thin  whitish  bloom,  remaining  bright 
when  full  ripe;  cavity  regular,  of  medium  size  and  depth;  calyx,  con- 
sisting of  four  medium-sized  bluish  green  sepals,  somewhat  reflexed 
when  fruit  is  ripe;  apex  slightly  protruding;  skin  thin,  tenacious; 
flesh  yellowish,  translucent,  meaty;  flavor  sweet  and  rich;  quality  very 
good;  seeds  7  or  8,  rather  large,  dark  brown.  Season,  October  and 
early  November,  in  southern  Mississippi. 

The  tree  is  a  strong  grower,  of  upright  habit,  with  large  leaves.  It  is 
very  precocious  and  productive.  The  variety  is  considered  especially 
promising  for  experimental  commercial  planting  in  the  Gulf  States, 
because  of  its  productiveness  and  the  large  size,  bright  and  durable 
color,  and  fine  quality  of  the  fruit. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LV  were  grown  by  Mr.  A.  G. 
Delmas,  of  Scranton,  Miss. 

PECANS. 

[PLATES  LVI  AND  LVIL] 

Of  our  native  nut-bearing  trees  none  promises  to  become  of  such 
pomological  importance  as  the  pecan.  Within  the  region  to  which  it 
is  well  adapted  for  cultivation,  which  may  be  roughly  stated  as  the 
Mississippi  Valley  below  St.  Louis,  the  South  Atlantic,  and  the  Gulf 
States,  including  Texas,  no  other  nut  tree,  either  foreign  or  introduced, 
can  be  considered  as  fairly  in  competition  with  it.  Though  long  neg- 
lected as  a  possible  profitable  orchard  tree,  it  has,  during  the  past 
fifteen  years,  assumed  considerable  importance,  and  extensive  orchards 
have  been  planted  in  most  of  the  Southern  States.  Previous  to  about 

2M 


58 

406         YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

1900  most  such  orchards  were  planted  with  seedling  trees  or  with 
nuts  of  particular  varieties,  which  were  placed  at  desired  orchard  dis- 
tances and  allowed  to  germinate  and  grow  where  the  future  trees  were 
to  stand,  thus  avoiding  the  transplanting  process.  As  the  earlier 
seedling  orchards  have  come  into  bearing  it  has  become  increasingly 
apparent  -that  the  seedlings  from  trees  of  those  exceptionally  fine 
varieties  which  the  orchardist  desires  to  perpetuate  vary  too  greatly 
from  their  parent  types  to  be  of  much  commercial  value.  Such  seed- 
lings rarely  bear  nuts  closely  similar  to  the  parent  in  size,  form,  color, 
thinness  of  shell,  plumpness  of  kernel,  or  dessert  quality,  and  still 
more  rarely  do  they  reproduce  the  desired  productiveness,  ripening 
time,  or  other  important  characteristics  that  determine  the  commercial 
value  of  the.  tree.  The  necessity  of  relying  upon  budded  and  grafted 
pecan  trees  for  commercial  orchards  is  now  very  generally  recognized 
by  intelligent  planters,  so  that  at  the  present  time  few  seedlings  are 
being  planted. 

Unfortunately,  much  confusion  exists  among  growers  as  to  the 
exact  identity  and  proper  nomenclature  of  several  of  the  leading  sorts. 
This  is  partially  due  to  the  fact  that  for  many  }rears  the  locations  of 
the  original  trees  were  not  known  to  the  general  public,  and  partially 
to  the  fact  that  in  certain  instances  deliberate  renaming  of  varieties 
previously  introduced  was  practiced  by  certain  nurserymen  and  dealers 
in  seeds  and  trees.  The  situation  has  been  further  complicated  by  a 
somewhat  general  practice  of  selling  seedling  trees  under  the  names  of 
the  varieties  from  which  they  were  grown.  The  result  of  these  prac- 
tices is  that  many  and  diverse  forms  of  the  pecan  are  now  found  in 
orchards  throughout  the  South  under  the  names  of  some  of  the  best- 
known  sorts.  These  practices  are  now  discouraged  by  the  leading 
nurserymen  and  orchardists,  arid  it  is  hoped  that,  through  the  edu- 
cational campaign  which  has  been  inaugurated  by  the  National  Nut 
Growers'  Association  through  the  adoption  of  the  code  of  nomenclature 
of  the  American  Pomological  Society  and  its  application  to  the  names 
of  nut  varieties  in  catalogues  and  other  publications  relating  to  the 
subject,  these  productive  causes  of  confusion  in  the  names  and  identity 
of  varieties  will  soon  cease  to  operate. 

With  a  view  to  determining  the  exact  identity  of  the  varieties  that 
have  been  longest  introduced  to  cultivation,  the  ten  sorts  that  have 
been  advertised  and  propagated  for  a  sufficient  time  to  attain  a  wide 
distribution  among  planters  are  illustrated  on  Plates  LVI  and  LVII. 
The  writer  has  visited  the  localities  where  these  varieties  originated, 
and  in  the  case  of  all  except  the  Centennial  (the  original  tree  of 
which  was  destroyed  in  1890)  has  inspected  and  photographed  the 
original  trees.  The  effort  has  been  to  illustrate  nuts  that  fairly  repre- 
sent characteristic  specimens  of  the  varieties,  including  thickness  of 


59 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  407 

shell  and  form,  color,  and  plumpness  of  kernel,  as  well  as  the  external 
characteristics.  In  all  cases  the  nuts  illustrated  are  from  trees  grown 
in  the  climatic  regions  where  the  varieties  originated. 

CENTENNIAL  PECAN. 
[PLATE  LVL] 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  stood  on  the  Anita a  plantation  of 
Mr.  Amant  Bourgeois,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi  River,  in 
St.  James  Parish,  La.,  from  some  date  early  in  the  nineteenth  century 
until  March  14,  1890,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  the  disastrous  Anita 
crevasse,  which  swept  away,  to  the  depth  of  15  feet,  the  earth  in  which 
it  stood.  Whether  it  was.  a  chance  seedling  or  was  grown  from  'a 
planted  nut  is  not  known.  So  far  us  known,  the  first  effort  to  perpetu- 
ate the  variety  by  grafting  was  made  by  the  late  Dr.  A.  E.  Colomb 
early  in  the  "forties."  Not  succeeding  in  this  effort,  Doctor  Colomb 
later  cut  scions  from  the  original  tree  and  took  them  to  the  late 
Telesphore  J.  Roman,  owner  of  Oak  Alley  plantation,  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  river,  whose  slave  gardener,  Antoine  b}T  name,  succeeded 
in  grafting  16  trees  near  the  mansion  and  quarters  with  this  variety  in 
the  winter  of  1846  or  1847.  Somewhat  later  than  this  Mr.  Roman 
had  110  trees  grafted  "in  the  large  pasture  which  was  forty  arpents 
from  the  river"  with  the  same  variety,  so  that  by  the  close  of  the  civil 
war  (1865)  there  were  126  grafted  Centennial  trees  in  bearing  on  this 
plantation.  The  plantation  having  changed  bands  shortly  after  the 
war.  the  later  plantings  of  grafted  trees  were  cut  down  to  make  way 
for  sugar  cane,  although  they  were  just  reaching  their  most  productive 
age  and  the  nuts  from  them  were  then  selling  at  from  $50  to  $75  per 
barrel.0 

In  1876,  Hubert  Bonzano,  who  then  owned  Oak  Alley,  exhibited  nuts 
from  these  grafted  trees  at  the  Centennial  Exposition  in  Philadelphia. 
He  was  awarded  a  diploma  based  upon  an  examination  by  Prof. 
William  H.  Brewer,  in  which  the  variety  was  commended  for  its 
•'remarkably  large  size,  tenderness  of  shell,  and  very  special 
excellence." c 

It  is  not  clear  as  to  who  first  applied  the  name  Centennial  to  the 
variety,  but  so  far  as  ascertained  it  was  first  catalogued  under  that 
name  by  the  late  Richard  Frotscher,  of  New  Orleans,  in  1885,  the 
propagation  of  budded  and  grafted  trees  of  it  for  sale  having  been 
begun  about  1882  by  William  Nelson,  who  was  associated  with  Mr. 
Frotscher  in  the  pecan  nursery  business. 

«  Personal  statement  of  Emil  Bourgeois,  Central,  La.,  October,  1902. 

&  Letters  of  Henry  J.  Roman  and  Prof.  Alce"e  Fortier,  of  New  Orleans,  son  and 
nephew,  respectively,  of  Telesphore  J.  Roman,  May  to  August,  1903. 

f  U.  S.  International  Exhibition  1876,  Reports  and  Awards.  Group  VI,  Award 
222,  p.  46.  Philadelphia,  1877. 


408         YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

So  far  as  ascertained,  the  Centennial  is  the  first  variety  of  pecan 
that  was  successfully  propagated  by  budding  or  grafting.  It  was 
also  the  first  variety  planted  in  commercial  orchard  form,  with  a 
definite  view  to  producing  nuts  for  sale,  and  one  of  the  first  three  to 
be  catalogued  and  offered  for  sale. 

Two  of  the  earliest  grafted  Centennial  trees,  above  referred  to,  are 
still  standing  at  Oak  Alley.  They  were  thrifty,  productive,  and  in 
fine  condition  when  inspected  by  the  writer  in  the  autumn  of  1902. 
The  date  of  their  grafting  by  the  slave  Antoine  (1846  or  1847), 
under  Doctor  Colomb's  direction,  marks  the  beginning  of  modern 
pecan  culture. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  large,  average  nuts  running  about  45  to  50  to  the  pound;  form 
long,  compressed  cylindrical,  gradually  tapering  to  the  wedge-shaped 
apex;  base  conical;  color  bright  grayish  brown  with  rather  scanty 
purplish  splashes  toward  apex;  shell  rather  thick,  partitions  thin; 
cracking  quality  medium;  kernel  clear,  reddish  yellow,  deeply  and 
narrowly  grooved,  but  quite  smooth  and  separating  easily  from  the 
shell;  plump,  solid;  of  delicate  texture  and  flavor,  quality  very  good. 

The  Centennial  tree  is  a  rather  slender  grower  with  grayish  green 
young  wood  sprinkled  with  small  light  dots.  It  becomes  pendulous 
as  it  attains  age,  and  is  on  this  account  one  of  the  handsomest  varieties 
for  parks  or  large  lawns.  It  is  slow  to  come  into  bearing,  but  appears 
to  be  a  fairly  regular  cropper  after  attaining  an  age  of  about  15  years 
from  bud  or  graft. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LVI  were  from  one  of  the  two 
surviving  trees  that  were  grafted  in  1846-47  on  Oak  Alley  plantation, 
Feitel,  St.  James  Parish,  La.  They  were  furnished  by  the  present 
owner  of  the  plantation,  Mr.  A.  M.  Sobral. 

FROTSCHER  PECAN. 
(SYNONYMS:  Eggshell,  Frotscher's  Eggshell,  Olivier,  Majestic.} 

[PLATE  LVI.] 

This  variety  was  originated  by  the  late  Oscar  Olivier  in  his  garden 
beside  the  Bayou  Teche  at  Olivier,  Iberia  Parish,  La.  The  original 
tree,  now  owned  by  H.  J.  Pharr,  is  still  healthy,  vigorous,  and  pro- 
ductive. Its  exact  age  is  not  known,  but  the  indications  are  that  it 
was  planted  subsequent  to  1860.  It  appears  to  have  been  first  propa 
gated  about  1882  by  William  Nelson,  and  first  catalogued  by  the  late 
Richard  Frotscher  as  u  Frotscher's  Eggshell,"  in  1885.  Locally  it  is 
still  known  as  the  " Olivier"  pecan,  in  honor  of  its  originator. 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  409 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  large,  averaging  about  45  to  50  nuts  per  pound;  form  cylindri- 
cal oval  with  broad,  rounded  base  and  blunt  quadrangular  apex;  suture 
rather  indistinct;  color  bright  yellowish  brown,  with  scattered  pur- 
plish black  splashes  toward  apex;  shell  thin  to  very  thin,  with  thin 
partitions;  cracking  quality  excellent;  kernel  brownish  yellow,  often 
shrunken,  showing  dark  veins  even  in  the  fresh  nuts;  texture  rather 
dry  and  coarse;  flavor  pleasant;  quality  medium. 

The  tree  of  Frotscher  is  a  strong  grower,  of  broadly  spreading  and 
sprawling  habit,  the  young  wood  bright  brownish  green  in  color  and 
conspicuously  dotted.  The  variety  is  precocious  and  productive,  but 
the  fault)T  character  of  many  of  its  kernels  and  their  stale  appearance, 
even  when  perfectly  fresh  from  the  tree,  materiall}r  lessen  its  value 
as  a  commercial  variety. 

The  tree  characters  of  Frotscher  are  quite  clearty  reproduced  in  its 
seedlings,  and,  as  man)7  of  these  have  been  planted  throughout  the 
South,  there  is  much  confusion  regarding  the  variety. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LVI  were  grown  by  Mr.  B.  M. 
Young,  Morgan  City,  La. 

JEWETT  PECAN. 

[PLATE  LVI.] 

The  original  Jewett  pecan  tree  was  grown  from  a  nut  planted  on  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Wilcox  place,  1£  miles  north  of  Scranton,  Miss., 
by  the  little  son  of  Charles  M.  Cruzat,  about  1881,  it  being  the  only  one 
obtained  from  a  half  dozen  nuts  purchased  in  New  Orleans  at  a  cost  of 
50  cents.  Mr.  Cruzat  has  no  information  regarding  the  source  of  the 
nuts  which  he  purchased,  but  remembers  that  they  were  large,  fine- 
looking  pecans.  The  tree  commenced  bearing  at  the  age  of  7  years, 
and  attracted  the  attention  of  the  late  Col.  W.  R.  Stuart,  of  Ocean 
Springs,  Miss.,  who  purchased  the  crops  for  several  years  and  cut 
scions  for  grafting  in  nursery.  He  introduced  the  variety  in  the  form 
of  grafted  trees  in  1893,  naming  it  Jewett,  in  honor  of  Col.  Stephen 
Jewett,  of  Crosby,  N.  C.  The  original  tree  is  still  standing,  and  is 
about  4  feet  7  inches  in  circumference,  but  is  affected  b}T  a  bark  dis- 
ease to  which  the  variety  appears  specially  susceptible,  and  is  now 
bearing  but  light  crops  of  nuts. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  large  to  very  large,  varying  from  45  to  55  nuts  per  pound; 
form  long,  angular,  obovate,  often  constricted  at  middle,  with  a  blunt 
quadrangular  apex,  which  is  often  curved  and  beaklike;  suture  quite 
distinct;  color  dull  reddish  brown,  with  many  purplish  splashes,  some- 
times extending  the  full  length  of  the  nut;  shell  rather  thick,  with  thin 


62 

410         TEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

partitions,  cracking  easily  but  adhering  to  the  kernel;  kernel  long, 
wedge  shaped,  rather  broadly  grooved,  bright  in  color,  rather  coarse 
in  texture,  and  only  fairly  good  in  quality. 

The  Jewett  tree  is  an  erect,  strong  grower  when  young,  and  is  at 
least  fairly  productive.  It  is  apparently  very  susceptible  to  a  bark 
disease  which  has  attacked  the  original  tree  and  many  of  those  propa- 
gated from  it.  Aside  from  the  large  size  and  striking  appearance  of  a 
portion  of  its  crop  there  appears  to  be  little  to  commend  it  to  planters. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LVI  were  grown  by  the  Stuart 
Pecan  Company,  Ocean  Springs,  Miss. 

PABST  PECAN. 
[PLATE  LVI.] 

The  original  tree  of  the  Pabst  pecan  is  one  of  a  number  of  seedlings 
on  the  grounds  of  the  late  William  B.  Schmidt,  of  New  Orleans,  at  his 
country  place  at  Ocean  Springs,  Miss.  These  trees  were  grown  from 
nuts  from  unknown  sources  obtained  in  New  Orleans  about  1875.  The 
Pabst  tree  proved  to  be  an  especially  strong  grower,  yielding  nuts  of 
large  size  and  plump  kernel,  and  was  first  propagated  by  Mr.  Charles 
E.  Pabst,  of  Ocean  Springs,  in  1890.  It  was  named  in  1893  in  honor 
of  Mr.  Pabst  by  Mr.  B.  M.  Young,  of  Morgan  City,  La.,  who  has 
done  much  to  clear  up  the  uncertainties  regarding  names  and  to 
determine  the  relative  merits  of  pecan  varieties. 

The  Pabst  tree  was  over  5  feet  in  circumference  when  badly  damaged 
by  a  severe  wind  and  rain  storm  October  9,  1893,  which  destroyed 
most  of  its  top.  It  has  been  replaced  by  two  thrifty  sprouts  from  the 
root  of  the  original  tree,  which  in  1903  were  good-sized  trees,  27  and 
21  inches  in  circumference,  respectively,  and  bearing  nuts. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  large,  averaging  about  45  to  55  nuts  per  pound;  form  short, 
cylindrical,  with  a  very  blunt,  broadly  grooved  apex;  color  dull  gray, 
heavily  splashed  with  purplish  black;  shell  thick,  hard;  partitions 
rather  thick;  cracking  quality  medium;  kernel  plump,  smooth,  with 
broad  grooves,  bright  straw  color;  texture  fine;  flavor  delicate;  quality 
very  good. 

The  Pabst  is  a  very  sturdy,  upright  tree  with  stocky  gray-green 
young  wood,  sparsely  sprinkled  with  large  dots.  It  appears  to  be 
fairly  productive  where  it  has  been  under  test  for  a  sufficient  time  to 
test  its  bearing  habit. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LVI  were  grown  by  Mr.  Charles 
E.  Pabst,  Ocean  Springs,  Miss. 


6° 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  Ill 

POST  PECAN. 
(SYNONYM:  Post's  Select,  in  part.) 

[PLATE  LVII.] 

The  original  tree  of  the  Post  pecan  is  a  wild  seedling  on  the  farm 
of  Mr.  H.  B.  Freeman,  on  the  Colorado  River  bottom,  in  San  Saba 
County,  Tex.,  near  Milburn,  McCulloch  County.  The  farm  was  for- 
merly owned  by  a  Mr.  Post,  by  whose  name  the  variety  was  locally 
known  prior  to  1891,  when  Mr.  Herbert  Post,  of  Fort  Worth,  Tex., 
began  purchasing  the  crop  and  advertising  it  and  other  pecans  widely 
under  the  trade  name  "Post's  Select."  Little  effort  appears  to  have 
been  made  to  perpetuate  the  variety  by  graf  ting  until  a  comparatively 
recent  date. 

When  examined  by  the  writer  in  November,  1903,  the  original  tree 
was  in  fairly  thrifty  condition,  and  had  a  circumference  of  9  feet  8 
inches  at  18  inches  from  the  ground.  Its  crop  has  varied  from  1£  to 
11  bushels  per  annum  in  recent  years. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  medium,  averaging  about  65  to  75  nuts  per  pound;  form  com- 
pressed, short,  obovate,  with  a  rather  blunt,  conical  apex;  color  bright 
reddish  yellow,  showing  very  few  purple  splashes;  shell  thick,  par- 
titions thick,  cracking  quality  medium;  kernel  clear,  bright  straw 
color,  but  deeply  grooved  and  wrinkled;  texture  firm,  compact,  fine 
grained;  flavor  delicate;  quality  good. 

The  original  Post  tree  is  a  moderately  strong,  upright  grower,  with 
rather  slender,  bright  }Toung  wood  with  numerous  small  dots,  and 
is  quite  regularly  productive.  The  variety  has  been  fruited  on  buds 
or  grafts  in  but  few  places,  and  its  behavior  outside  of  the  locality  of 
its  origin  can  not  yet  be  determined. 

The  variety  described  is  the  true  Post.  In  recent  years  an  entirely 
distinct  sort,  the  Hollis,  which  originated  at  Bend,  San  Saba  County, 
Tex.,  and  is  a  larger  and  apparently  superior  nut,  has  been  distributed 
by  the  introducer  under  the  name  "  Post's  Select." 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LVII  were  furnished  by  Mr. 
E.  W.  Kirkpatrick,  of  McKinney,  Tex.  They  were  from  the  original 
tree. 

ROME  PECAN. 

(SYNONYMS:    Century,  Columbia,  Columbian,   Mammoth,  Pride  of  the  Coast,  Southern 

Giant,  Twentieth  Century.) 

[PLATE  LVII.] 

The  original  tree  of  the  Rome  pecan  was  grown  from  a  nut  planted 
by  the  late  Sebastian  Rome  in  his  garden  at  Convent,  St.  James 
Parish,  La.,  about  1840.  The  source  from  which  the  nut  which  he 


64 

412         YEARBOOK    OF   THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

planted  was  secured  is  not  known.  The  variety  appears  to  have  been 
first  propagated  by  Mr.  William  Nelson,  who  took  scions  from  the  tree 
about  1882,  and  it  was  first  catalogued  by  Richard  Frotscher  in  1885 
under  the  name  "Rome."  About  1883,  the  late  Emil  Bourgeois,  of 
Central,  La.,  secured  scions  from  the  original  tree  and  top-grafted  some 
seedling  trees  at  his  home  on  Rapidan  plantation  in  the  same  parish. 
There  it  was  christened  "Pride  of  the  Coast,"  and  soon  thereafter 
Mr.  Bourgeois  began  its  propagation  in  nursery  under  that  name. 
This  variety  yields  the  largest  nuts  of  any  yet  brought  to  notice,  and 
has  therefore  been  the  subject  of  deliberate  renaming  by  nurserymen 
and  seedsmen  more  frequently  than  any  other.  This  accounts  for  the 
diversity  and  number  of  its  synonyms. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Rome  is  still  standing  in  the  Rome  garden 
at  Convent,  La.  It  has  been  in  a  state  of  decrepitude  for  several 
years,  and  now  yields  but  light  crops  of  nuts,  many  of  which  have 
imperfect  kernels. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  variable,  large  to  very  large,  40  to  55  nuts  per  pound,  selected 
samples  running  as  large  as  25  per  pound;  form  oblong  or  cylindrical 
oval,  tapering  gradually  to  the  wedge-shaped  apex;  color  grayish, 
often  heavily  splashed  and  spattered  with  purplish  black  over  most  of 
the  surface;  shell  thick,  hard;  partitions  thick;'  cracking  quality  poor; 
kernel  often  shrunken  or  entirely  "false;"  color  bright,  texture 
rather  coarse  and  dry;  flavor  fair,  quality  good  when  plump  and  well 
filled,  but  usually  quite  indifferent. 

The  Rome  tree  is  an  erect,  fairly  strong  grower,  with  rather  stout 
bluish-green  young  wood.  It  occasionally  bears  large  crops,  but  is 
erratic  in  this  respect,  and  at  most  points  where  it  has  been  tested  a 
large  proportion  of  the  kernels  are  defective.  Aside  from  the  fact 
that  a  portion  of  the  crop  is  of  extraordinary  size,  there  is  little  to 
commend  it  to  the  planter. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on.  Plate  LVII  were  grown  by  Paul  E. 
Bourgeois,  Central,  La. 

RUSSELL  PECAN. 

[PLATE  LVII.] 

The  Russell  pecan  tree,  like  all  others  at  Ocean  Springs,  Miss. ,  was 
grown  from  planted  nuts,  that  locality  being  below  the  native  range 
of  the  species  in  that  section.  This  tree  was  one  of  a  lot  of  seedlings 
grown  by  the  late  Col.  W.  R.  Stuart,  of  Ocean  Springs,  Miss. ,  about 
1875,  from  nuts  secured  by  him  from  James  Moore,  a  blacksmith  of 
that  village.  The  exact  source  from  which  Moore  secured  the  nuts 
is  not  known.  Colonel  Stuart  sold  five  of  these  seedling  trees  to 
Peter  Madsen,  who  planted  them  in  his  garden,  now  the  property  of 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.   of  Agriculture,    1904. 


PLATE  LVI. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1904 


PLATE  LVII. 


65 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  413 

Mrs.  H.  F.  Russell.  Of  the  five  trees,  four  produced  nuts  of  good  size 
and  thin  shell,  the  largest  and  thinnest  shelled  one  receiving  the  name 
Russell  from  Mr.  Charles  E.  Pabst,  who  first  propagated  it  in  1894. 
The  tree  is  a  fairly  regular  bearer,  averaging  about  150  pounds  of 
nuts  per  annum,  and,  though  receiving  little  care  or  attention,  is  a 
healthy,  vigorous  tree  at  present  writing.  It  has  attained  a  high  local 
reputation  on  account  of  its  exceptionally  thin  shell  and  regularity  of 
bearing. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  medium  to  large,  55  to  60  nuts  per  pound;  'form  compressed, 
oval,  tapering  to  a  long,  sharp  apex  and  a  rather  pointed  base;  color 
grayish  brown,  with  narrow  splashes  and  spatters  of  purplish  black; 
shell  very  thin,  partitions  very  thin  and  fragile,  cracking  quality  excel- 
lent; kernel  broadly  grooved,  rather  dark  straw  color,  often  lacking 
in  plumpness  and  defective  at  tip,  texture  rather  dry,  flavor  pleasant, 
quality  good. 

The  tree  is  rather  pendulous  in  habit,  with  slender,  dark,  conspic- 
uously dotted  young  wood,  bearing  regularly  and  well,  so  far  as  tested. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LVII  were  grown  by  Mr.  Charles 
E.  Pabst,  Ocean  Springs,  Miss. 

SAN  SABA  PECAN. 
(SYNONYMS:  Paper  Shett,  Risieris  Paper  Shell,  Royal.) 

[PLATE  LVL] 

The  original  San  Saba  tree  is  a  native  seedling  on  the  San  Saba  River 
bottom,  near  the  intersection  of  that  stream  with  the  Colorado  of  Texas. 
It  came  to  the  notice  of  Mr.  E.  E.  Risien,  its  present  owner,  as  the  result 
of  the  offer  of  a  $5  premium  by  him  for  the  best  pecan  that  should  be 
brought  to  him  with  the  privilege  of  purchasing  its  crop.  He  was  so 
impressed  with  the  superiority  of  this  one  that  he  purchased  the  farm 
upon  which  it  stands  in  order  to  secure  the  tree,  although  he  found 
that  it  had  been  so  ruthlessly  stripped  of  its  top  with  ax  and  saw  in 
harvesting  the  crop  that  only  a  single  branch  remained.  After  repeated 
failures  in  his  attempts  at  grafting,  Mr.  Risien  developed  a  method  of 
annular  budding,  which  is  very  successful  with  him,  and  which  has 
enabled  him  to  transform  the  tops  of  many  large  wild  pecan  trees  into 
this  choice  sort,  as  well  as  to  bud  young  seedlings  in  nursery, for  trans- 
planting to  orchard. 

Mr.  Risien  formally  introduced  the  variety  under  the  name  San  Saba 
about  1893.  The  original  tree  is  at  present  a  fine,  healthy  specimen, 
with  a  girth  of  9  feet  6  inches,  bearing  an  average  crop  of  about  180 
pounds  of  nuts. 


-14         YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  small  to  medium,  averaging  about  85  to  90  nuts  per  pound; 
form  varying  from  long  oval  to  oblong,  with  blunt  apex;  color  bright, 
reddish  yellow,  strongly  splashed  towardapex  with  purplish  black;  .shell 
very  thin  and  brittle,  though  quite  dense  in  texture;  partitions  thin; 
cracking  quality  very  good;  kernel  plump,  bright  straw  color,  smooth 
and  broadly  grooved,  almost  invariably  well  filled;  texture  delicate, 
solid,  fine  grained;  flavor  very  delicate;  quality  best. 

The  tree  is  a  short- jointed,  rather  slender  grower,  enormously  pro- 
ductive in  the  vicinity  of  its  place  of  origin.  It  has  not  yet  been  fruited 
elsewhere  to  any  extent,  but  is  considered  one  of  the  best  high-grade 
dessert  varieties.  On  account  of  the  thinness  of  shell,  the  nuts  should 
be  packed  in  relatively  small  boxes  when  shipped  to  avoid  cracking  in 
transit.  Its  small  size  is  its  only  conspicuous  fault. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LVI  were  grown  by  Mr.  E.  E. 
Risien,  San  Saba,  Tex. 

STUART  PECAN. 
(SYNONYM:  Castanera.) 

[PLATE  LVIL] 

The  original  tree  of  this,  which  is  generally  considered  the  most 
widely  successful  pecan  variety  yet  introduced  and  tested,  stood  in  a 
garden  at  Pascagoula,  Miss.,  now  owned  by  Capt.  E.  Castanera. 

It  is  supposed  to  have  grown  from  a  nut  brought  from  Mobile, 
Ala.,  by  John  R.  Lassabe  and  planted  about  1874. a  It  early  acquired 
local  celebrity  on  account  of  its  productiveness  and  the  beauty  and  fine 
quality  of  its  product,  its  average  yield  from  1889  to  1892  being  about 
140  pounds  per  annum.  In  1892  it  yielded  about  350  pounds  of  nuts, 
most  of  which  were  sold  by  Charles  M.  Cruzat,  who  then  held  the  place 
under  lease,  at  $1  per  pound.  It  was  first  propagated  by  Mr.  A.  G. 
Delmas,  of  Scranton,  Miss.,  who  cut  scions  in  1886.  Out  of  some  sixty 
grafts  inserted  he  secured  one  tree,  which  still  survives  in  his  garden. 
John  Keller,  then  associated  with  Col.  W.  R.  Stuart,  of  Ocean  Springs, 
Miss.,  in  the  pecan-nursery  business,  secured  scions  from  the  tree 
about  1890,  from  which  trees  were  propagated  in  nursery  by  them. 
The  trees  of  the  variety  were  offered  for  sale  by  Colonel  Stuart  about 
1892,  under  the  name  Stuart,  which  had  been  suggested  for  it  by  Prof. 
H.  E.  Van  Deman,  then  Pomologist  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
who  was  unaware  of  the  name  previously  applied  to  it  in  the  locality 
where  it  originated.  Under  the  name  Stuart  it  received  wide  adver- 
tising and  distribution,  so  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  widely  disseminated 
varieties  throughout  the  South.  The  original  tree  in  Captain  Casta- 
nera's  garden  was  blown  down  in  October,  1893,  by  the  same  storm 

<*  Letters  from  Charles  M.  Cruzat,  1903. 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS. 

which  destroyed  the  top  of  the  original  Pabst  tree  at  Ocean  Springs. 
Some  two  years  later  a  sprout  from  one  of  the  roots  appeared,  which 
has  developed  into  a  symmetrical  young  tree,  which  bore  its  first  nuts 
in  1902. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  large  to  very  large,  averaging  about  40  to  50  nuts  per  pound; 
form  cylindrical,  slightly  compressed,  with  rather  blunt  apex  and 
rounded  base;  color  brownish  gray,  moderately  splashed  and  dotted 
with  purplish  black;  shell  moderately  thin;  partitions  thin  and  fragile; 
cracking  quality  very  good;  kernel  bright,  moderately  smooth,  plump, 
rather  narrowljr  grooved;  texture  firm,  fine  grained,  solid;  flavor 
delicate,  rich;  quality  very  good. 

The  tree  of  Stuart  is  a  strong,  upright,  spreading  grower,  with 
moderately  stout  }Toung  wood,  grayish  green  in  color,  rather  sparsely 
dotted  with  oval  dots.  It  is  proving  regularly  and  abundantly  pro- 
ductive in  most  localities  where  it  has  been  fruited,  and  is  apparently 
succeeding  over  a  wider  climatic  range  than  any  other  sort  thus  far 
tested. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LVII  were  grown  by  the  Stuart 
Pecan  Company,  Ocean  Springs,  Miss. 

VAN  DEMAN  PECAN. 

(SYNONYMS:  Bourgeois,  Duminie  Mire,  Mire;  Mere,  and  Meyer  erroneously;  Paragon 

in  part,  Southern  Beauty. ) 

[PLATE  LVII.] 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  was  grown  from  a  nut  planted  by 
the  late  Duminie  Mire,  of  Union,  St.  James  Parish,  La.,  in  1836. 
Mr.  Mire,  then  25  years  of  age,  secured  nuts  from  a  highly  esteemed 
tree  on  the  adjoining  place  of  Mr.  Gravois,  which  he  planted  in  the 
garden  surrounding  his  dwelling.  Of  the  several  trees  that  resulted 
from  this  planting  only  the  one  described  here  is  considered  worthy 
of  perpetuation.  Mr.  Mire  informed  the  writer,  in  October,  1902, 
that  the  product  of  this  one  closely  resembles  the  nuts  planted.  This 
tree,  which  is  locally  known  as  the  "Duminie,"  or  "Duminie  Mire," 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  late  Emil  Bourgeois,  who,  about  1877, 
cut  scions  from  it  for  propagation.  Although  this  was  his  first  effort 
at  grafting,  he  succeeded  in  getting  11  scions  to  grow  out  of  22  that 
he  set  as  top  grafts  on  seedling  trees  near  his  residence  on  Rapidan 
plantation.  When  these  grafts  began  bearing  he  commenced  prop- 
agating young  trees  for  planting  in  orchard  form  and  for  sale  to  the 
near-by  planters,  among  whom  it  is  known  as  the  "Duminie  Mire" 
pecan  to  this  date. 

A  considerable  quantity  of  nuts  and  some  scions  from  these  grafted 
trees  having  passed  into  the  hands  of  Col.  W.  R.  Stuart,  of  Ocean 


416     -  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Springs,  Miss.,  about  1890,  he  renamed  the  variety  Van  Deman,  in 
honor  of  Prof.  H.  E.  Van  Deman,  then  Pomologist  of  the  Department 
of  Agriculture.  Since  1892  it  has  been  widely  advertised  and  dis- 
tributed under  that  name,  which  has  now  become  so  firmly  fixed  in 
the  literature  of  the  subject  as  to  make  a  return  to  the  earlier  local 
name  inadvisable  at  this  time. 

About  1900,  nuts  and  grafted  trees  of  the  variety  were  placed  on  the 
market  by  Herbert  Post,  Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  under  the  name  Paragon. 

The  original  tree  still  stands  in  the  Mire  garden,  close  to  the  Missis- 
sippi River  levee,  at  Union  Post-Office,  La.,  and  when  inspected  by 
the  writer  in  October,  1902,  was  a  beautiful,  thrifty  tree,  measuring  7 
feet  6  inches  in  circumference,  and  bearing  from  200  to  300  pounds  of 
nuts  per  annum. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  large  to  very  large,  averaging  45  to  55  nuts  per  pound;  form 
long,  compressed,  with  a  rather  sharp  base  and  a  long,  sharp  apex,  often 
slightly  curved;  color  rather  dark,  reddish  brown;  slightly  splashed 
with  purplish  black,  especially  toward  apex;  shell  moderately  thin, 
partitions  rather  thick  but  brittle;  cracking  quality  fair;  kernel  long, 
narrowly  grooved,  generally  plump,  except  at  tip;  color  bright,  clean, 
attractive;  texture  firm,  fine  grained;  flavor  delicate,  rich;  quality  very 
good. 

The  Van  Deman  tree  is  of  strong,  moderately  erect  habit,  with 
grayish-green  young  wood  showing  inconspicuous  dots,  and  is  a  reg- 
ular and  abundant  bearer  in  the  locality  of  its  origin.  It  does  not  thus 
far  appear  to  be  as  productive  elsewhere  nor  to  fill  out  its  kernels 
as  well. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LVII  were  grown  by  Mr.  Paul 
E.  Bourgeois,  Central,  La. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS 


BY 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[REPRINT  FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1905.] 


7i 


CONTENTS. 


rage. 

Introduction 495 

Virginia  Beauty  apple 495 

Carson  apple 496 

Crocker  pear 497 

Everbearing  peach 498 

Golden  plum 500 

Damson  plums 501 

Riley 502 

Scioto 502 

Pringle 503 

Eulalia  loquat 503 

Pecans 504 

Hollis 505 

Moneymaker 506 

Schley 507 

Success 507 

Young 508 

Trapp  avocado 508 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PLATES. 

Page. 

PLATE  LVIII.  Virginia  Beauty  apple 496 

LIX.  Carson  apple 496 

LX.  Crocker  pear 496 

LXI.  Everbearing  peach 498 

LXII.  Golden  plum 502 

LXIII.  Damson  plum 502 

LXIV.  Eulalia  loquat 506 

LXV.  Pecan  varieties 506 

LXVL  Trapp  avocado 508 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

In  a  country  like  the  United  States,  which  embraces  so  wide  a  range 
of  climatic  and  soil  conditions,  the  origination  and  dissemination  of 
fruit  varieties  is  a  very  important  phase  of  economic  pomology. 
Without  the  origination  of  varieties  adapted  to  peculiar  regional  con- 
ditions, there  are  few  sections  in  which  profitable  commercial  fruit 
culture  can  be  permanently  maintained.  A  considerable  degree  of 
adaptability  to  climate,  resistance  to  particular  diseases  or  insects,  and 
suitability  for  special  uses  is  essential  to  the  profitable  maintenance  of 
fruit  plantations  in  the  open  air  in  most  of  our  territory.  Wrhile  a 
few  varieties  of  most  cultivated  fruits  possess  a  high  degree  of  endur- 
ance of  varying  conditions,  such  varieties  are  usually  of  rather  inferior 
quality  and  not  well  suited  to  highly  specialized  uses.  Until  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  American-grown  sorts  has  been  accumulated  our  fruit 
growers  must  continue  to  test  such  new  sorts  as  give  promise  of  meet- 
ing their  special  needs.  The  present  article  of  this  series*  calls  atten- 
tion to  some  of  the  more  recently  introduced  varieties  that  appear  to 
possess  distinct  merit  for  testing  in  different  fruit  districts. 

VIRGINIA   BEAUTY   APPLE. 

[PLATE  LVIII.] 

This  excellent  winter  variety  appears  to  have  originated  early  in  the 
last  century  as  a  chance  seedling  on  the  farm  of  the  late  Mr.  Zachariah 
Saferight,  now  owned  by  Mr.  C.  C.  Edwards,  in  Carroll  County,  Va., 
which  was  then  a  part  of  Grayson  County.  The  original  tree,  which 
is  still  standing,  is  reported  to  have  borne  fruit  in  1826.  Soon  after 
that  date  the  variety  was  disseminated  throughout  Carroll,  Grayson, 
Wythe,  and  Pulaski  counties  by  Mr.  Martin  Stoneman,  who  used  scions 
of  it  for  top-grafting  trees  in  orchards  on  various  farms.6  Old  men  in 
that  region  state  that  it  was  known  to  them  as  a  disseminated  variety  in 
their  boyhood.  It  was  first  disseminated  under  the  names  "  Zach/'  and 

a  See  Yearbooks  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1901  (p.  381),  1902  (p.  469), 
1903  (p.  267),  and  1904  (p.  399). 

&  Letters  of  R.  M.  Crockett,  Pulaski,  Va.;  Prof.  William  B.  Alwood,  Blacksburg, 
Va.;  H.  C.  Wysor,  Dublin,  Va.;  J.  W.  Stoneman,  Cap,  Va.,  and  S.  D.  Stoneman, 
Gambetta,  Va.,  1901-6. 

495 


496  YEARBOOK    OF    THE   DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

"Zach  Red,"  but  as  neither  of  these  appears  to  have  been  published 
they  are  not  admitted  as  synonyms.  About  1850  Mr.  Stoneman  named 
the  variety  ''Virginia  Beauty,"  under  which  name  it  appears  to  have 
been  first  catalogued  and  offered  for  sale  soon  after  1871  by  the 
Franklin  Davis  Nursery  Company,  then  of  Richmond,  Va.,  which 
began  its  propagation  in  nursery  in  that  year.a  So  far  as  known,  it 
has  no  published  synonyms.  The  earliest  published  description  appears 
to  be  that  contained  in  the  Report  of  the  Pomologist  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  for  1895,  page  36. 

Though  apparently  never  extensively  advertised  or  illustrated,  the 
Virginia  Beauty  is  now  quite  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
mountain  region  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  is  recognized  as 
a  promising  variety  for  like  latitudes,  at  least  as  far  west  as  eastern 
Nebraska.  Its  mild  flavor,  which  closely  approximates  sweetness,  is 
highly  appreciated  in  southern  markets,  where  the  variety  commands 
a  premium  on  this  account,  and  accordingly  it  is  being  considerably 
planted  as  a  commercial  variety  in  the  mountain  region  referred  to. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  quite  variable,  ranging  from  oblate  to  roundish  oblong;  size 
medium  to  large;  surface  smooth,  glossy;  color  dark  yellow,  almost 
entirely  covered  with  purplish  red,  showing  occasional  dim  stripes  of 
darker  red;  dots  variable,  numerous,  russet,  some  indented;  cavity 
irregular,  of  medium  size  and  gradual  slope,  sometimes  lipped  and 
usually  russeted;  stem  short,  rather  stout,  frequently  bearing  bracts; 
basin  regular,  small,  shallow,  slightly  furrowed  and  lumpy;  calyx 
segments  thin,  converging;  eye  medium,  closed;  skin  moderate!}7 
thick  and  tenacious;  flesh  greenish  yellow,  fine  grained,  tender,  juicy; 
core  medium  to  large,  conical,  clasping;  seeds  numerous,  of  medium 
size,  short,  plump,  brown;  flavor  mild  subacid,  almost  sweet;  quality 
good  to  very  good  for  dessert  use  in  the  fresh  state  and  for  baking. 
Season,  October  to  February  in  the  mountain  region  of  North  Carolina 
and  Virginia. 

The  tree  is  reported  to  be  a  moderately  strong,  rather  upright 
grower,  becoming  somewhat  pendulous  after  reaching  bearing  age. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  LVIII  was  grown  near  Taylors- 
ville,  Alexander  County,  N.  C. 

CARSON    APPLE. 

[PLATE  LIX.] 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  was  obtained  about  1835  by  a 
relative  of  Mr.  Nathan  Moore,  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  from  a  small  apple 
seedling  nursery  in  Wood  County,  Ohio,  owned  by  a  family  named 
Carson.  When  it  came  into  bearing,  about  1850,  it  was  so  attractive 

« Letter  of  W.  T.  Hood,  Richmond,  Va.,  March  28,  1906. 


Yearbook  U  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture,  1905 


PLATE  LVIII. 


VIRGINIA  BEAUTY  APPLE 


YeartjooK  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.  1905. 


PLATE  L1X 


CARSON  APPLE. 


Yearbook  U   S  0«pt.  of  AfricuKur*.  1905. 


PLATE  LX 


CROCKER  PEAR. 


75 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  497 

in  appearance  and  of  such  excellent  quality  that  Mr.  Moore  began  its 
propagation  and  dissemination  in  northern  Ohio  about  1855  under  the 
name  ' '  Carson,"  which  it  has  ever  since  borne.  The  earliest  publication 
of  the  name  appears  to  have  been  in  the  report  of  the  Kentucky  State 
Fruit  Committee  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  American  Pomological 
Society  for  1875  (p.  135),  where  it  was  recommended  for  planting  in 
the  central  and  southern  portions  of  Kentucky.  Its  excellent  record 
for  productiveness,  beauty,  and  quality  in  northern  Ohio  for  a  half 
century  renders  it  worthy  of  experimental  planting  throughout  the 
Lake  region  and  the  New  England  States,  both  for  the  home  orchard 
and  as  a  commercial  variety. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblate,  sometimes  slightly  conical;  size  large;  surface  smooth, 
with  occasional  russet  knobs  and  patches;  color  pale  yellow,  washed, 
splashed,  and  narrowly  striped  with  bright  crimson;  dots  rather  large, 
conspicuous,  and  protruding;  cavity  medium,  regular,  deep,  russeted; 
stem  of  medium  length  and  rather  slender;  basin  very  large,  deep, 
abrupt,  furrowed,  and  sometimes  russeted;  calyx  segments  converg- 
ing; eye  large,  closed;  skin  thin,  tough;  flesh  yellowish,  with  satiny 
luster  when  fresh  cut;  texture  fine,  tender,  juicy;  core  small,  broad, 
oval,  clasping,  nearly  closed;  seeds  few,  plump,  medium,  brown;  flavor 
subacid,  pleasant;  quality  very  good.  Season,  November  to  March  in 
northern  Ohio. 

Tree  vigorous  and  upright  in  habit,  very  productive. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  L1X  was  grown  near  Toledo, 
Ohio. 

CROCKER   PEAR. 
(  SYNONYM  :  Crocker  Bartlett. ) 

[PLATE   LX.] 

One  of  the  most  evident  needs  of  the  American  commercial  pear 
grower  is  an  attractive  winter  variety  of  good  dessert  quality  that  is 
at  the  same  time  productive  and  at  least  fairly  resistant  to  blight. 
Most  of  the  European  winter  varieties  thus  far  tested  in  this  country 
have  failed  in  one  or  more  of  these  important  particulars  when  trans- 
ferred to  America,  so  that  the  supply  of  desirable  winter  sorts  is 
rarely  equal  to  the  demand  of  our  domestic  markets.  One  of  the 
most  promising  new  varieties  in  this  field  is  the  "  Crocker,"  which 
appears  to  have  originated  in  a  small  orchard  planted  by  gold  miners 
on  the  American  River,  near  Loomis,  Cal. ,  about  1850  to  1860.  This 
orchard,  which  consisted  of  about  4  acres  of  apples,  pears,  peaches,  and 
plums,  with  some  grapes  and  figs,  was  purchased  by  Mr.  L.  L. 
Crocker  in  1872.a  It  then  contained  a  thicket  of  some  50  young  pear 

o  Letters  of  L.  L.  Crocker,  February,  1905. 


76 

498  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPAKTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

sprouts  surrounding  an  older  tree  of  an  unrecognized  winter  variety. 
Desiring  to  clear  the  ground  to  make  way  for  planting  other  trees, 
Mr.  Crocker  noticed  fruit  upon  some  of  these  young  trees,  which  were 
evidently  suckers  from  the  stock  upon  which  the  old  tree  had  been 
budded  or  grafted.  He  therefore  deferred  their  destruction  until  the 
end  of  the  season,  to  permit  the  fruit  to  ripen.  The  pears  remained 
on  the  trees  until  December,  when  they  began  falling,  although  still 
hard  and  inedible.  Specimens  that  were  laid  away  ripened  gradually 
from  January  until  the  end  of  winter  and  were  of  such  excellent 
quality  that  Mr.  Crocker  transplanted  five  of  the  largest  sprouts  to 
his  orchard,  where  they  are  still  bearing  annual  crops.  Later  he 
began  the  nursery  propagation  of  the  variety,  and  gradually  increased 
his  plantings  of  it  until  he  now  has  over  3,000  bearing  trees.  It  is 
locally  known  as  the  "  Crocker  Bartlett,"  and  has  been  disseminated 
under  that  name  by  Mr.  Crocker  since  1902.  It  has  but  recently 
begun  to  attract  attention  elsewhere,  but  is  considered  worthy  of 
testing  in  eastern  pear  districts. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  oblong,  obovate,  pyriform,  somewhat  angular;  size  medium 
to  large;  surface  rather  smooth;  color  rich  golden  yellow,  somewhat 
netted  and  overspread  with  russet;  dots  minute,  russet;  stem  medium 
to  long,  rather  slender,  inserted  obliquely,  with  little  or  no  depression; 
basin  of  medium  size,  regular,  deep,  abrupt,  russeted,  and  furrowed; 
calyx  segments  rather  small,  converging;  eye  small,  closed;  skin  rather 
thick,  but  quite  tender;  flesh  yellowish,  buttery,  juicy,  with  some 
woody  granules  near  core;  core  of  medium  size,  oval,  slightly  open, 
meeting  the  eye;  seeds  short,  plump,  round,  rather  numerous;  flavor 
mild  subacid  to  sweet  and  very  rich;  quality  very  good. 

The  tree  is  reported  to  be  a  vigorous  grower,  thus  far  free  from 
blight,  and  regularly  productive.  The  fruit  is  somewhat  subject  to 
scab  in  the  locality  of  its  origin,  and  therefore  needs  to  be  sprayed  to 
protect  against  this  disease.  Season,  January  to  March  in  Placer 
County,  Cal. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  LX  was  grown  at  Loomis,  Cal. 

EVERBEARING   PEACH. 

[PLATE   LXL] 

The  so-called  "  Spanish"  group  of  peaches,  which  is  supposed  to 
have  been  introduced  into  both  Mexico  and  our  own  Gulf  region  by  the 
early  Spanish  explorers  and  missionaries,  is  in  some  respects  our  most 
interesting  group  of  peaches.  It  unquestionably  attained  wider  distri- 
bution in  the  United  States  during  the  period  of  exploration  and  col- 
onization which  preceded  the  development  of  commercial  peach  culture 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture.  1905. 


PLATE  LXI 


EVERBEARING  PEACH. 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS. 


Irffl 


than  the  so-called  "  Persian "  group,  to  which  most  of  our  older 
cultivated  varieties  belong. 

Hunters  and  trappers,  and  even  the  Indians,  appear  to  have  aided  in 
the  dissemination  of  these  peaches  in  many  sections,  so  that  the  early 
settlers  in  many  parts  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  Upper  Lake 
regions  found  the  type  so  firmly  established  in  certain  localities  as  to 
appear  indigenous.  From  the  Gulf  to  the  Great  Lakes  it  was  thor- 
oughly established  by  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  reach- 
ing its  northern  limit  of  planting  in  orchard  form,  so  far  as  known  to 
the  writer,  in  the  so-called  "Indian  peach  orchard"  on  the  Kalamazoo 
River,  near  the  present  village  of  Douglas,  Mich.,  where  a  bearing 
orchard  of  300  trees  was  found  by  the  settlers  when  they  reached 
there,  about  1831.  In  the  mountain  regions  of  southwestern  Virginia, 
western  North  Carolina,  and  eastern  Tennessee  there  are  numerous 
seedling  orchards  of  the  type  still  in  existence,  and  it  is  a  significant 
fact  that  in  recent  years  nurserymen  throughout  the  Northern  and 
Eastern  States  are  turning  to  that  region  for  sound  and  disease-free 
seed  for  planting. 

Notwithstanding  the  early  introduction  and  wide  distribution  of  the 
type  under  such  names  as  "  Indian  Peach,"  "Indian  Cling,"  "  Squaw 
Peach,"  etc.,  it  has  given  rise  to  but  few  varieties  that  have  been  con- 
sidered worthy  of  perpetuation  by  budding.  The  "Columbia,"  which 
Coxe  originated  in  New  Jersey  from  a  seed  taken  from  Georgia,  was 
for  many  years  after  its  description  in  1817  apparently  the  only 
described  variety.  At  the  present  time  there  are  but  few  varieties,  and 
most  of  these  are  restricted  in  their  planting  to  the  region  in  close 
proximity  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  to  which  they  appear  to  be  better 
adapted  than  those  of  an}'  other  group.  None  of  these  has  yet  attained 
distinct  commercial  importance,  but  several  are  highly  esteemed  for 
home  use.  A  marked  characteristic  of  this  group  is  that  certain 
individual  trees  have  a  long  blossoming  period  and  a  correspondingly 
long  season  in  which  the  fruit  matures.  It  is  this  that  gives  special 
value  to  the  "  Everbearing,"  a  variety  which  originated  about  1885  in 
the  garden  of  a  Mrs.  Page,  at  Cuthbert,  Ga.  Blossoming,  as  it  does, 
through  a  period  of  several  weeks,  it  rarely  fails  to  set  a  fair  crop  of 
fruit,  while  the  fruit  in  turn  ripens  through  a  period  of  from  six  to 
twelve  weeks  on  the  same  tree. 

The  variety  was  named  and  disseminated  by  the  P.  J.  Berckmans 
Company,  of  Augusta,  Ga. ,  in  1897.  It  has  been  found  insufficiently 
hard}-  in  New  Jersey,  but  is  considered  worthy  of  planting  for  home 
use  throughout  the  recognized  peach  districts  of  the  South.  It  is  not 
recommended  as  a  commercial  peach,  as  the  peculiar  color  and  long 
ripening  season  would  doubtless  prevent  it  from  becoming  a  profitable 
market  sort. 

59141—08 2 


78 

500  YEARBOOK    OF    THE   DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish  conical;  size  medium  to  large,  the  later  ripening 
fruits  being  smaller  than  the  earlier  ones;  cavity  large,  regular,  deep, 
abrupt;  stem  rather  stout;  suture  shallow;  apex  rather  prominent; 
surface  smooth,  thickly  covered  with  long,  loose,  velvety  down;  color 
greenish  white,  striped  and  mottled  with  purplish  red;  skin  thick, 
tenacious;  flesh  whitish,  considerably  stained  and  veined  with  red, 
meaty,  tender,  and  juicy;  stone  of  medium  size,  oval,  free; 
flavor  subacid,  rich;  quality  good  to  very  good.  Season,  July  1  to 
September  1  or  later  in  southern  Georgia. 

Tree  vigorous,  compact,  productive;  glands  ren if orm;  flowers  large. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  LXI  was  grown  at  Augusta,  Ga. 

GOLDEN    PLUM. 

(SYNONYM:  Gold.) 

[PLATE  LXII.] 

Of  the  hybrid  plums  originated  by  Luther  Burbank  that  have  been 
introduced  for  a  sufficient  time  to  render  a  forecast  of  their  climatic 
requirements  possible,  this  variety  appears  adapted  to  the  widest  geo- 
graphical range.  The  original  tree  was  grown  in  1887  or  1888,  by  Mr. 
Burbank,  from  a  seed  of  Robinson  (Prunus  angmtifolia),  which  was 
the  result  of  a  cross  with  pollen  of  Abundance  (synon}Ttns  Botan,  Yel- 
low-fleshed Botan,  Sweet  Botanot  Burbank,  but  not  of  others),  one  of 
the  best  known  and  most  widely  grown  of  the  Japanese  plums  in 
America.  It  was  named ' "  Golden  "  by  Mr.  Burbank  in  1892,  and  a  brief 
description  of  the  variety,  based  on  specimens  submitted  by  him,  was 
published  in  the  Report  of  the  Pomologist  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture for  that  year.a  It  was  catalogued  and  illustrated  by  Mr.  Bur- 
bank  under  this  name  in  his  catalogue  of  New  Creations  in  Fruits  and 
Flowers,  June,  1893.  About  that  time  the  original  tree  and  the  right 
of  introduction  were  purchased  by  the  Stark  Brothers  Nurseries  and 
Orchards  Company,  of  Louisiana,  Mo.,  which  catalogued  it  for  dissemi- 
nation in  the  autumn  of  1894  under  the  name  "Gold,"  which  was 
registered  as  a  trade-mark  in  the  United  States  Patent  Office  on  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1895.  The  prior  application  and  publication  of  the  name 
"Golden"  entitles  it  to  precedence  under  the  code  of  nomenclature  of 
the  American  Pomological  Society  and  it  has,  therefore,  been  generally 
adopted  by  pomologists. 

The  variety  has  been  planted  in  most  of  our  plum  districts,  and, 
while  not  of  the  highest  dessert  quality,  is  a  hardy,  productive,  and 
excellent  fruit  in  most  of  the  territory  where  either  the  Japanese  or 
the  Chickasaw  plums  succeed. 

"Report  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  1892,  p.  263. 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  globular  to  globular  oblate;  size  medium  to  large;  cavity  of 
medium  size,  deep  and  abrupt;  stem  of  medium  length,  rather  slender; 
suture  shallow,  except  at  apex,  which  is  slightly  depressed;  surface 
golden  yellow,  lightly  blushed  with  carmine  when  well  ripened  and 
covered  with  thin  bloom;  dots  numerous,  russet  or  gray;  skin  moder- 
ately thick,  tenacious,  rather  acid,  and  when  picked  prematurely  quite 
bitter;  stone  small  to  medium,  oval,  cling;  flesh  yellowish,  translucent, 
with  yellow  veins,  tender  and  juicy,  yet  firm  enough  to  endure  ship- 
ment well;  flavor  rich,  subacid,  pleasant;  quality  good  to  very  good. 
Season  medium,  about  July  20  to  30  at  Augusta,  Ga. ;  reported  by  Mr. 
Bur  bank  to  ripen  through  a  period  of  five  or  six  weeks  during  July 
and  August  in  Sonoma  County,  Cal. 

Tree  dwarfish  and  compact,  with  small  foliage,  resembling  its 
Chickasaw  rather  than  its  Japanese  parent  in  these  respects,  a  good 
bearer,  and  apparently  hardy  throughout  all  but  the  coldest  plum 
districts.  It  is  apparently  particularly  well  adapted  to  the  South 
Atlantic  and  Gulf  States. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LXII  were  grown  at  Augusta,  Ga. 

DAMSON   PLUMS. 
[PLATE  LXIIT.] 

In  the  effort  on  the  part  of  commercial  fruit  growers  and  nursery- 
men to  secure  plums  of  large  size  and  bright  color  that  are  suitable 
for  dessert  use  in  the  fresh  state  as  well  as  for  cooking,  the  value  of 
this  important  group  of  culinary  plums  has  been  largely  overlooked 
in  recent  years.  The  production  of  damsons  has  lagged  behind  that 
of  other  plums,  so  that  it  m&y  well  be  questioned  whether  the  total 
product  of  this  type  now  available  in  our  markets  is  as  large  as  it  was 
twenty-five  years  ago.  The  market  demand  for  the  fruit  continues 
strong  in  practically  all  city  markets,  so  that  the  average  wholesale 
price  of  damsons  is  considerably  higher  in  most  of  them  than  that  of  the 
Domestica,  native,  or  Japanese  plums.  This  is  especially  true  of  the 
later  ripening  varieties,  the  fruit  of  which  is  available  for  domestic 
preserving  after  city  families  return  from  their  country  outings.  As 
the  damsons  are  adapted  to  a  wide  range  of  climatic  conditions  and 
are.  as  a  rule,  quite  regularly  productive,  the  present  outlook  appears 
to  favor  an  increase  in  their  commercial  planting  in  the  districts  where 
they  are  known  to  succeed.  This  is  especially  true  of  varieties  and 
districts  that  yield  fruit  which  can  be  marketed  after  September  15  in 
the  larger  cities. 

The  varieties  chiefly  grown  in  this  country  are  the  "Common," 
"Cluster,"  "French,"  and  "Shropshire,"  the  last  named  being  by 


80 

502  YEAEBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

far  the  most  extensively  planted.  Quite  recently  renewed  interest  m 
the  damsons  has  brought  to  light  several  promising  new  sorts,  of 
which  the  three  following  are  considered  worthy  of  illustration  at 
this  time: 

RlLEY. 

This  variety  was  discovered  as  a  chance  seedling  about  1890  on  the 
grounds  of  Mr.  J.  N.  Riley,  at  Washington  C.  H.,  Ohio.  It  has  an 
excellent  record  for  productiveness  and  is  reported  to  be  especially 
resistant  to  the  black-knot.  Mr.  Riley  began  its  propagation  in  a 
small  way  about  1890  and  disseminated  it  locally  without  a  name 
shortly  thereafter.  It  was  named  "Riley,"  in  honor  of  the  originator^ 
in  1901  by  Messrs.  McNary  &  Gaines,  of  Xenia,  Ohio,  and  was  intro- 
duced by  them  in  1902. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  globular;  size  medium;  cavity  small,  shallow,  abrupt;  stem 
slender  and  of  medium  length;  suture  very  shallow;  apex  minute  > 
surface  moderately  smooth,  glossy;  color  very  dark  brownish  purple, 
covered  with  a  profuse  bluish-white  bloom;  dots  small,  russet^ 
indented;  skin  thick,  brittle,  without  trace  of  bitterness;  flesh  yel- 
lowish, translucent,  with  yellow  veins,  meaty  and  juicy;  stone  of 
medium  size,  roundish  oval,  semiadherent;  flavor  subacid,  rich; 
quality  good  to  very  good  for  culinary  use.  Season,  August  15  to 
September  1  at  Washington  C.  H. ,  Ohio. 

The  tree  is  reported  to  be  a  strong  grower,  both  in  nursery  and  in 
orchard,  and  very  productive. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  LXIII  was  grown  at  Washington 
C.  H.,  Ohio. 

SCIOTO. 

This  variety  has  been  grown  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  formerly  a  noted 
damson  district,  for  nearly  seventy-five  years,  generally  under  the 
name  "Mussel,"  but  sometimes  as  "Chickasaw,"  the  name  commonly 
applied  to  the  native  species  Prunus  angustifolia.  It  was  brought  to 
Chillicothe  by  Miss  Palace  Hill  in  1831,  in  the  form  of  young  trees, 
from  Petersburg,  Va.  These  trees  were  from  the  nursery  of  her 
brother,  Mr.  Joseph  C.  Hill,  who  started  a  nursery  on  Halifax  street, 
in  that  city,  in  1820.  The  variety  had  been  found  by  him  on  the  farm 
of  his  brother,  Mr.  Thomas  Hill,  near  Boilings  Bridge,  North  Caro- 
lina, on  the  Roanoke  River. a  It  is  a  damson  of  superior  quality  and 
is  highly  esteemed  in  Ross  County,  Ohio.  It  is  reputed  to  reproduce 
itself  very  closely  through  its  seedlings,  though  commonly  propagated 
by  sprouts.  So  far  as  known,  it  has  not  been  formally  named  and 

«  Statements  of  William  E.  Hill,  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  January,  1906,  through  letters 
of  William  B.  Mills. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1905. 


PLATE  LXII, 


GOLDEN  PLUM. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture.  1905 


PLATE  LXIII. 


R  i  LEY. 


SCIOTO. 


PRINGLE. 


DAMSON  PLUMS. 


PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS. 


>03 


introduced.  It  has  been  gratuitously  disseminated  in  recent  years 
under  the  name  "Scioto"  by  Mr.  William  B.  Mills,  of  Chillicothe, 
Ohio. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong  to  obovate;  size  medium  to  large  for  a  damson;  cavity 
small,  shallow;  stem  medium  in  length,  slender;  suture  very  shallow; 
apex  minute;  surface  smooth;  color  very  dark  purplish  brown,  almost 
black,  covered  with  a  profuse  bluish  bloom;  dots  minute,  russet;  skin 
moderately  thick,  tenacious,  without  bitterness;  flesh  yellowish  green 
with  whitish. veins,  meaty,  firm,  and  moderately  juicy;  stone  oval, 
free,  small;  flavor  rich,  subacid;  quality  good  to  very  good,  both  in 
the  fresh  state  and  when  cooked.  Season,  August  20  to  30  in  Ross 
County,  Ohio. 

Tree  a  vigorous,  upright  grower,  more  spreading  than  most  of  the 
damsons,  and  very  productive. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  LXIII  was  grown  at  Chillicothe, 

Ohio. 

PRINGLE. 

This  variety  was  discovered  as  a  sprout  from  the  stock  of  a  Lombard 
plum  tree  in  the  orchard  of  Mr.  A.  C.  Pringle,  at  Mears,  Mich.  The 
Lombard  tree  had  been  brought  from  a  nursery  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  in 
1863.  After  the  sprout  began  bearing,  the  lateness  of  its  fruit  attracted 
attention,  and  the  high  prices  received  for  it  in  the  Chicago  market 
led  to  its  propagation  and  dissemination  under  the  name  "Pringle," 
by  E.  Hawley  &  Sons,  of  Hart,  Mich.,  about  1896. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oval;  size  large  for  this  type;  cavity  regular,  small, 
shallow;  stem  rather  long,  stout;  suture  shallow;  apex  slightly 
depressed;  surface  very  smooth  and  glossy;  color  dark  blue,  covered 
with  bright  blue  bloom;  dots  numerous,  minute;  skin  moderate!}7 
thick,  tenacious,  somewhat  bitter;  flesh  translucent,  greenish,  with 
yellow  veins,  meaty  and  juicy;  stone  rather  large,  oval,  adherent; 
flavor  mild  subacid;  quality  good  for  culinary  use.  Season  late,  Octo- 
ber 1  to  15  in  Oceana  County,  Mich. 

Tree  vigorous,  upright,  spreading,  but  rather  slender,  with  very 
smooth  wood  and  few  spines.  Unites  well  with  myrobalan  stock,  but 
not  at  all  with  peach. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  LXIII  was  grown  at  Hart,  Mich. 

EULALIA   LOQUAT. 

[PLATE  LXIV.] 

The  loquat  continues  to  attract  interest  in  subtropical  districts, 
especially  in  southern  California,  and  several  originators  are  now  giv- 
ing special  attention  to  the  development  of  improved  varieties.  One 


82 

504  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

of  the  most  interesting  yet  introduced  is  the  Eulalia,  which  was  origi- 
nated by  Mr.  M.  Fayan,  of  Olive,  Cal.,  as  one  of  several  seedlings 
from  seed  of  the  "Advance"0  planted  by  him  in  1897.  The  Advance 
tree  from  which  the  seed  was  secured  stood  beside  a  red-fruited  seed- 
ling tree,  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  staminate  parent.  When  the 
seedling  bore  its  first  crop  in  1893  the  red  color  of  its  fruit,  which 
extends  through  the  flesh  as  a  distinct  pinkish  tinge,  attracted  atten- 
tion, and  Mr.  Fayan  at  once  began  its  propagation.  He  at  first  named 
it  "Red Eulalia,"  but  in  May,  1904,  reduced  this  to  " Eulalia,"  in  con- 
formity with  the  code  of  nomenclature  of  the  American  Pomological 
Society.  So  far  as  known  to  the  writer  the  variety  has  not  been  pre- 
viously published  or  described.  Its  dissemination  was  begun  by  Mr. 
Payan  in  1905. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  truncate  pyriform  to  obovate  pyriform,  borne  in  large,  rather 
loose  terminal  clusters  on  stout  woolly  stems  inserted  without  depres- 
sion; surface  smooth,  sparsely  covered  with  light  down;  apex  depressed; 
basin  irregular,  abrupt,  corrugated;  calyx  segments  broad,  short, 
downy,  converging;  eye  medium,  partially  open;  color  orange  yellow, 
blushed,  and  washed  with  red  when  tree-ripened  and  overspread  with  a 
thin  bloom;  dots  numerous,  aureole,  light  gray;  skin  thick,  tough, 
acid;  flesh  pinkish,  translucent,  orange,  melting,  tender,  very  juicy; 
seeds  of  medium  size,  rather  numerous;  flavor  subacid;  quality  good. 
Season,  February  to  May  in  Orange  County,  Cal. 

The  tree  is  reported  to  be  a  rather  vigorous  grower,  spreading  and 
productive,  and  has  thus  far  shown  no  blight. 

The  cluster  illustrated  on  Plate  LXIV  was  grown  at  Olive,  Cal.,  and 
is  rather  below  the  usual  size  of  the  variety  grown  at  that  place. 

PECANS. 

[PLATE  LXV.] 

Interest  in  the  pecan  as  an  orchard  nut  continues  to  increase,  and  a 
large  number  of  named  varieties  are  now  offered  by  southern  nursery- 
men in  the  form  of  budded  and  grafted  trees.  Aside  from  the  ten 
varieties  described  and  illustrated  in  1904ft  but  few  of  these  have  yet 
been  fruited  outside  of  the  localities  where  they  originated  or  on  other 
than  their  original  trees.  Of  the  numerous  new  sorts  that  have  come 
under  the  observation  of  the  writer,  the  following  are  considered  dis 
tinctly  promising  and  worthy  of  test  in  their  respective  climatic 
regions. 

«  For  an  illustration  of  the  Advance  loquat,  see  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  for  1901,  PI.  LIL 

6  Promising  New  Fruits,  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1904,  pp. 
405-416,  Pis.  LVI  and  LVII. 


o 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  505 

HOLLIS. 

(SYNONYMS:  IMltft  Jumbo;   Jumbo;   Risien,  through   error;  Post's  Select,    in   part; 

Georgia  Belle.} 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  is  a  wild  seedling  which  was  dis- 
covered on  the  Colorado  River  bottom,  on  the  farm  of  the  late  Thomas 
Hollis,  near  Bend,  San  Saba  County,  Tex.,  now  owned  by  Mr.  P.  B. 
McCoury.  It  is  reported  to  be  from  75  to  100  years  old,  100  feet 
high,  and  3£  feet  in  diameter.  It  has  averaged  about  300  pounds  of 
nuts  per  annum  for  several  years,  and  yielded  5^0  pounds  in  1905. a 
This  original  tree  has  long  had  a  high  local  reputation  in  the  region  of 
its  origin,  where  it  has  been  known  as  "Jumbo  "and  "Hollis's  Jumbo." 
It  appears  to  have  been  first  propagated  by  Mr.  E.  E.  Risien,  of  San 
Saba,  Tex.,  about  1884,  he  having  received  scions  of  it  from  the  late 
Dr.  Gregg,  of  that  place.  Its  general  introduction  under  the  name 
Hollis  appears  due  to  Mr.  C.  Falkner,  of  Waco,  Tex.,  who  began  its 
nursery  propagation  about  1900.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  consid- 
erably disseminated  throughout  central  and  eastern  Texas  by  top-graft- 
ing and  through  nursery  stock.  Nuts  from  the  original  tree  are 
reported  to  have  been  exhibited  at  the  New  Orleans  Exposition  in 
1884-85  by  Mr.  F.  H.  Holloway,  then  of  Burnet,  but  now  of  Fairland, 
Tex.6  Nuts  from  the  same  tree  have  been  widely  sold  for  seed  since 
about  1899  under  the  name  "  Post's  Select,"  which  had  previously  been 
applied  to  the  Post,  an  entirely  distinct  variety. c  Specimens  of  the 
Hollis,  received  from  Mr.  F.  M.  Ramsej^,  then  of  Bluffton,  Tex.,  in  1891, 
under  the  name  "Jumbo,"  were  described  and  illustrated  under  that 
name  in  1896, d  and  other  specimens  received  from  Mr.  E.  E.  Risien, 
San  Saba,  Tex.,  in  November,  1890,  without  name,  appear  to  have 
been  erroneously  described  and  illustrated  under  the  name  "Risien" 
in  the  same  publication/ 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  medium  to  large,  averaging  about  45  to  50  to  the  pound;  form 
roundish  oblong,  with  very  blunt  base  and  apex,  very  regular  and 
symmetrical;  color  rather  dull  yellowish  brown,  with  numerous  pur- 
ple splashes;  shell  thick,  with  partitions  thick  but  soft,  rendering  the 
cracking  qualit}^  good;  kernel  short,  plump,  rather  dark  in  color, 
broadly  grooved,  releasing  the  shell  easily,  and  of  excellent  form  for 
confectioners'  use;  texture  firm,  but  rather  coarse;  flavor  sweet:  quality 
good  to  very  good. 

« Letters  of  P.  B.  McCoury,  Bend,  Tex.,  January,  1906. 

&  Letter  of  Mrs.  M.  E.  Hollis,  Lometa,  Tex.,  March,  1906. 

<\See  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1904,  p.  411,  PI.  LVII. 

<*Nut  Culture  in  the  United  States,  Division  of  Pomology,  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture, p.  63,  PI.  IX,  fig.  7. 

"Nut  Culture  in  the  United  States,  Division  of  Pomology,  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture, p.  64,  PI.  VIII,  fig.  14. 


84 

506  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

The  Hollis  tree  is  a  strong,  rather  upright  grower,  with  stout,  light- 
gray  wood,  showing  large  yellowish  dots.  The  crop  is  said  to  run 
very  uniform  in  size,  and  the  nuts  fill  well.  It  is  recommended  for 
testing  throughout  eastern  and  central  Texas  and  northward  toward 
the  limits  of  the  range  of  the  pecan. 

The  nuts  illustrated  on  Plate  LXV  were  grown  at  Bend,  Tex.,  by 
the  present  owner  of  the  original  tree. 

MONEYMAKER. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Moneymaker  variety  is  one  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  seedlings  in  the  orchard  grown  by  Mr.  S.  H.  James,  Mound, 
La.,  from  nuts  planted  by  him  about  1885.  The  nuts  planted  were 
purchased  in  New  Orleans  by  Mr.  James,  and  are  supposed  to  have 
grown  somewhere  west  of  that  city,  between  New  Orleans  and  the 
Texas  boundary.  The  seedlings  from  this  lot  of  seed  are  quite  distinct 
in  habit  of  growth,  color  of  bark,  and  foliage  from  the  pecans  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  resembling  more  closely  the  characteristic  Texas 
form  of  the  species.  The  original  Moneymaker  tree  began  bearing  at 
an  early  age,  and  has  continued  to  increase  its  yield  almost  without 
interruption  in  a  very  satisfactory  way.  When  examined  by  the  writer 
in  October,  1902,  it  was  a  beautiful,  spreading  tree,  and  had  just  yielded 
a  crop  of  about  130  pounds  of  nuts.  Mr.  James  began  the  propagation 
of  the  variety  by  budding  and  grafting  in  1898,  having  catalogued  it 
under  the  name  "Moneymaker"  about  1896. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  medium,  averaging  50  to  60  nuts  per  pound;  form  roundish 
oblong  to  roundish  conical,  rounded  at  base,  usually  with  rather  blunt 
apex;  color  bright  brownish  yellow  with  few  purple  splashes;  shell 
rather  thick,  with  thin  partitions,  cracking  well;  kernel  roundish 
oblong,  plump,  bright,  and  rather  broadly  grooved,  releasing  the  shell 
easily;  texture  moderately  firm  and  compact,  rather  dry;  flavor  sweet; 
quality  good  to  very  good.  The  crop  runs  very  uniform  in  size  and 
the  nuts  fill  well. 

The  tree  is  a  strong,  spreading  grower,  with  large  pale-green  foliage, 
young  wood  pale  green  covered  with  light  bloom,  and  with  large  dots. 
The  hulls  are  nearly  round  and  very  bright  in  color,  giving  the  fruit- 
ing tree  an  aspect  quite  like  the  Persian  walnut  (Juglans  regia). 

The  thrift  and  productiveness  of  this  variety  in  the  latitude  of  Vicks- 
burg,  Miss.,  where  it  originated,  render  it  promising  for  test  in  the 
more  northern  pecan  districts,  where  hardiness  is  likely  to  be  an 
important  point. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  LXV  were  grown  at  Mound,  La. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1905. 


PLATE  LXIV. 


z 


\ 


EULALIA  LOQUAT. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.  1905. 


PLATE   LXV. 


YO  U  N  G . 

PECAN  VARIETIES. 


O  .  I 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  507 

SCHLEY. 

(SYNONYM:  Admiral  Schley.) 

This  variety  is  a  seedling  of  the  Stuart,  grown  from  nuts  from  the 
original  tree  of  that  variety  at  Pascagoula,  Miss. ,  planted  about  1881 
by  Mr.  A.  G.  Delmas,  Scrantcm,  Miss.,  upon  whose  grounds  the  origi- 
nal tree  of  the  Schley  still  stands.  It  is  considered  by  the  originator 
the  best  of  a  large  number  of  seedlings  grown  by  him.  He  named  it 
' 4  Schley  "  in  1898,  and  began  its  propagation  by  top-grafting  in  1900. 
In  1902  Mr.  D.  L.  Pierson,  of  Monticello,  Fla.,  secured  scions  from  the 
original  tree  and  catalogued  and  introduced  it  as  "Admiral  Schley,'* 

under  which  name  it  has  been  quite  widely  disseminated. 

• 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  medium  to  large,  quite  variable,  ranging  from  45  to  60  per 
pound;  form  quite  variable,  oblong  conic  to  long  obovate,  with  conical 
apex;  color  golden  brown,  with  few  purple  splashes  toward  apex;  shell 
very  thin,  partitions  thin  and  brittle,  cracking  very  easily;  kernel  long, 
slender,  bright,  rather  deeply  and  narrowly  grooved,  but  releasing  the 
shell  so  easily  that  the  entire  kernel  can  readily  be  removed  with- 
out mutilation;  texture  fine  grained;  flavor  delicate,  sweet,  and  rich; 
quality  very  good. 

The  thinness  of  shell,  attractive  color,  and  fine  quality  of  this  nut 
leave  little  to  be  desired  in  a  dessert  pecan,  but  the  slenderness  of  the 
kernel  is  objectionable  from  the  confectioner's  standpoint.  The  crop 
is  quite  variable  as  to  quantity,  and  the  nuts  vary  considerably  in  size 
and  form. 

The  tree  is  a  rather  slender  grower,  with  bright  brownish-green 
young  wood,  with  numerous  large,  light  dots.  The  original  tree,  now 
25  years  old,  bore  about  125  pounds  of  nuts  in  1905.  The  variety 
should  be  tested  in  all  districts  near  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  nuts  illustrated  on  Plate  LXV  were  grown  at  Scranton,  Miss. 

SUCCESS. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Success  pecan  stands  on  the  grounds  of  the 
late  William  B.  Schmidt,  at  Ocean  Springs,  Miss.,  where  it  was  grown 
from  a  nut  supposed  to  have  been  planted  by  him  about  1890.  The 
attractiveness  and  superior  quality  of  its  crop  were  noticed  by  Mr, 
Theodore  Bechtel  in  1901,  who  began  its  propagation  in  the  spring  of 
1902.  The  variety  was  named  and  introduced  by  Mr.  Bechtel  in  1903. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  large,  running  about  45  to  50  nuts  fl^r  pound;  form  oblong, 
with  rather  sharply  conical  base  and  blunt  apex;  color  grayish  brown, 
with  rather  heavy  purple  stripes,  especially  toward  apex;  shell  of 


r  . 


^508  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

medium  thickness,  with  moderately  thick  partitions  and  fair  cracking 
quality;  kernel  roundish  oval,  plump,  bright,  somewhat  flaky  in 
texture,  but  of  pleasant  flavor  and  very  good  quality. 

Tree  vigorous,  rather  upright,  and  regularly  productive  so  far  as 
observed.  Promising  for  the  Gulf  region. 

The  original  tree  has  been  crowded  by  neighboring  seedlings  until 
recently,  so  that  it  is  smaller  than  most  pecan  trees  of  its  age  in  the 
same  locality,  but  it  yielded  45  pounds  of  nuts  in  1905. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  LXV  was  grown  on  the  original 
tree  at  Ocean  Springs,  Miss. 

YOUNG. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Young  pecan  is  a  planted  tree,  probably  60 
or  70  years  old,  in  the  grounds  of  Mr.  C.  B.  Delahoussaye  in  St.  Mar- 
tinsville,  La.  The  parentage  and  early  history  of  the  tree  are  at 
present  unknown.  The  large  size  and  thinness  of  shell  of  the  nuts 
borne  by  this  tree  attracted  the  attention  of  Mr.  B.  M.  Young,  of 
Morgan  City,  La.,  about  1891,  who  propagated  it  by  top-grafting  in 
1895.  It  was  named  ' '  Young  "  by  Burnette  a  in  1902,  and  was  first  cata- 
logued for  dissemination  by  J.  F.  Jones  &  Son,  Monticello,  Fla.,  in 
1904. 

The  Young  bears  a  striking  resemblance  in  both  tree  and  nut  to  the 
Russell,  and,  as  it  is  much  older,  is  possibly  the  parent  of  that  variety. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  medium  to  large,  running  about  50  to  60  nuts  to  the  pound; 
form  compressed,  ovate  conical,  with  pointed  base  and  sharply 
conical  apex;  color  rather  dark  grayish  brown,  with  a  few  purplish 
splashes  toward  apex;  shell  very  thin,  cracking  very  easily;  partitions 
thin  and  soft;  kernel  bright,  oblong,  symmetrical,  releasing  the  shell 
easily,  but  not  always  plump  at  tip;  texture  fine;  flavor  delicate  and 
rich;  quality  very  good. 

The  tree  is  a  vigorous  grower,  of  rather  pendulous  habit,  with 
slender  brownish -green  wood,  conspicuously  dotted.  It  has  a  good 
record  for  productiveness  in  recent  years  and  is  a  promising  fancy 
table  nut  for  the  Gulf  region. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  LXV  was  grown  at  Morgan 
City,  La. 

TRAPP   AVOCADO. 

[PLATE  LXVI.] 

The  avocado  (Persea  gratissima),  variously  known  in  the  Tropics  as 
uavocado  pear,"  "avocate,"  "aguacate,"  "alligator pear,"  "midship- 
man's butter,"  "palta,"  "vegetable  marrow,"  etc.,  has  in  recent  years 

« Louisiana  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bulletin  69,  second  series,  p.  874. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agricultu-x 


PLATE   LXVI. 


TRAPP  AVOCADO. 


c 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  509 

assumed  distinct  commercial  importance  in  southern  Florida.  It 
occupies  a  rather  unique  position  among  tree  fruits,  inasmuch  as  it  is 
chiefly  used  as  a  salad,  so  that  it  has  been  very  properly  designated 
b}'  Collins0  k4a  salad  fruit."  The  name  "alligator  pear,"  under  which 
it  is  known  to  English-speaking  people  in  Florida  and  the  West 
Indies,  and  which  is  commonly  applied  to  it  in  our  markets,  is  a 
regrettable  misnomer,  as  the  species  belongs  to  the  laurel  family,  is 
subtropical  in  its  climatic  requirements,  and  has  little  in  common  with 
the  pear.  The  forms  commonly  found  in  Florida  are  almost  tropical, 
enduring  little  more  frost  than  the  mango,  though  a  form  introduced 
into  the  United  States  from  Mexico  by  the  Division  of  Pomology  in 
1893  is  proving  considerably  hardier  both  in  California  and  in  Florida 
than  the  sorts  usualh^  grown. 

While  avocados  have  long  been  prized  in  the  West  Indies  and 
Florida  for  home  consumption,  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
any  considerable  demand  for  them  in  northern  markets  until  about 
1887,  when  Mr.  P.  W.  Reasoner  notes6  that  one  firm  in  the  New  York 
market  handled  from  300  to  500  West  Indian  fruits  per  week  during 
the  season  from  June  to  November.  Shipments  from  south  Florida 
to  northern  markets  began  about  as  soon  as  express  transportation 
was  available,  and  many  small  plantings  of  seedlings  are  now  found  on 
the  east  coast,  mostly  below  Palm  Beach,  and  on  the  neighboring 
keys.  The  seedlings  are  exceeding!}"  variable  in  productiveness  and 
in  the  size,  form,  color,  flavor,  and  time  of  ripening  of  the  fruit,  as 
noted  by  Rolfs/ and  not  until  its  bud  propagation  was  mastered  was  it 
possible  for  planters  to  perpetuate  particular  individual  varieties. 

The  earliest  commercial  budding  appears  to  have  been  done  by  Mr. 
George  B.  Cellon,  Miami,  Fla.,  in  1901,  and  since  that  time  budded 
trees  of  several  desirable  varieties  have  been  planted  in  considerable 
numbers  in  that  region.  From  the  commercial  standpoint  one  of  the 
most  important  features  is  lateness  of  ripening,  so  that  the  fresh-picked 
fruit  can  be  marketed  in  the  North  from  October  to  December.  Of 
the  varieties  that  are  known  to  be  of  this  character,  the  "Trapp"  has 
been  most  widely  propagated. 

This  variety  appears  to  have  originated  as  one  of  a  lot  of  seedlings 
grown  from  seed  planted  about  1894  by  the  late  Mr.  S.  C.  Trapp  in 
his  garden  at  Cocoanut  Grove,  Fla.  The  fruit  from  which  the  seed 
was  taken  is  supposed  by  Mrs.  Trapp  to  have  come  from  Key  West. 
The  original  tree  is  now  about  10  to  20  feet  in  height  and  is  in  healthy 
condition.  Its  late  ripening  habit  and  other  desirable  qualities  having 

a  Bui.  77,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Department  of  Agriculture,  "The  Avocado,  a 
Salad  Fruit  from  the  Tropics,"  1905. 

^  Bui.  1,  Division  of  Pomology,  Department  of  Agriculture,  p.  40. 

cBul.  61,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Department  of  Agriculture,  "The  Avocado  in 
Florida,"  pp.  21-23,  1904. 


.       ..,>.-:^ 

'510  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

attracted  attention,  its  propagation  by  budding  was  begun  in  1901 
by  Mr.  Cellon,  who  introduced  the  variety  under  the  name  "Trapp" 
in  the  following  year. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oblate  to  oblate  pyriform;  size  medium  to  large;  cav- 
ity regular,  small,  shallow,  with  gradual  slope,  somewhat  furrowed; 
stem  stout;  apex  slightly  depressed;  surface  smooth  and  undulating, 
with  numerous  brownish  dots,  some  of  which  are  indented;  color  pale 
green,  with  faint  and  indistinct  pale-yellow  stripes;  skin  very  thick  and 
tough,  separating  readily  from  the  flesh;  flesh  fairly  thick,  firm,  but 
smooth  and  rather  oily  in  texture,  ranging  from  pale  green  near  the 
skin  to  greenish  yellow  next  the  seed  cavity;  flavor  mild,  pleasant; 
seed  large,  oblate,  with  loose  seed  coats,  and  loose  in  the  cavity,  some- 
times germinating  in  the  fruit  when  allowed  to  remain  late  on  the 
tree,  though,  so  far  as  observed,  without  injury  to  either  texture  or 
flavor  of  flesh;  quality  very  good.  Season,  from  October  1  to  Janu- 
ary in  south  Florida,  occasional  specimens  having  remained  on  the 
tree  in  good  condition  until  March. 

The  tree  is  reported  to  be  a  fairly  vigorous  grower  and  very 
productive. 

The  striking  commercial  characteristic  of  the  variety  is  its  lateness 
of  ripening,  which  renders  it  marketable  for  the  midwinter  holiday 
trade,  when  very  high  prices  are  realized.  A  large  proportion  of  the 
budded  trees  thus  far  planted  in  Florida  consists  of  this  sort. 

The  specimen  from  which  the  illustration  on  Plate  LXVI  was  made 
was  from  the  original  tree  at  Cocoanut  Grove,  Fla. 


B.    P.   I.— 300. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS 


By 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[REPRINT  FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1906.] 


4793—07 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT    PRINTING  OFFICE  :  1907 


9 


0 


91 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction 355 

Magnate  apple 355 

Oliver  Red  apple 357 

Rabun  apple 359 

Early  Wheeler  peach 360 

Banner  grape 361 

Josephine  persimmon 362 

Chappelow  avocado 363 , 

Pecans 365 

Alley  pecan 366 

Teche  pecan 367 

Curtis  pecan 368 

Georgia  pecan 369 

Delmas  pecan 369 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

PLATE  XXV.  Magnate  apple 356 

XXVI.  Oliver  Red  apple 358 

XXVII.  Rabun  apple 358 

XXVIII.  Early  Wheeler  peach 360 

XXIX.  Banner  grape 360 

XXX.  Josephine  persimmon 364 

XXXI.  Chappelow  avocado 364 

XXXII.  Pecan  varieties 368 

in 


PBOMISING   NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

The  question  as  to  what  varieties  of  fruits  and  nuts  to  plant  is  one 
that  confronts  the  orchardist  when  he  contemplates  an  increase  of 
his  orchard  or  vineyard.  Requiring  a  more  or  less  permanent  invest- 
ment of  capital  in  the  form  of  land  and  labor,  as  well  as  cost  of  nursery 
stock,  it  is  essential  that  he  choose  such  varieties  as  shall  not  only 
be  adapted  to  his  climatic  and  soil  conditions,  but  also  to  the  markets 
or  uses  for  which  their  products  are  intended.  The  desires  and  needs 
of  consumers  change  as  time  rolls  on,  so  that  sorts  that  were  once 
profitable  cease  to  be  so,  even  though  they  do  not  deteriorate  in  any 
way;  hence  continual  attention  by  the  grower  to  the  new  sorts  that 
come  to  notice  is  advisable.  A  few  of  the  more  promising  new  varie- 
ties for  cultivation  in  different  sections  of  the  country  are  described 
and  illustrated  here  in  continuation  of  the  series  begun  in  the  Year- 
book for  1901  and  contributed  yearly  since  that  time. 

MAGNATE    APPLE. 

(SYNONYMS:   Magnet  of  some;  Stayman's  Superior;  Stayman's  No.  1  of  some;  Stay- 
man's  No.  2  of  some.) 

[PLATE   XXV.] 

This  promising  early  winter  variety  is  a  seedling  of  Winesap  which 
originated  with  the  late  Dr.  J.  Stayman,  at  Leavenworth,  Kans.,  in 
1866.°  After  the  original  tree  came  into  bearing  it  appears  to  have 
been  considerably  disseminated  by  the  originator,  in  the  form  of 
scions  for  testing,  from  about  1884  until  his  death,  in  1903.  While  a 
number  of  descriptions  and  outlines  of  the  variety  made  by  Doctor 
Stayman  are  preserved  in  the  extensive  collection  of  such  material 
bequeathed  by  him  to  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  it  is  appar- 
ently impossible  at  this  time  to  determine  under  what  designation 
the  variety  was  first  disseminated. 

It  appears  to  have  reached  Mr.  J.  W.  Kerr,6  Denton,  Md.,  in  the 
winter  of  1884-85  under  the  designation  "  Stayman's  Xo.  1"  with 
others  of  Doctor  Stayman's  seedlings  in  the  form  of  scions  from 

MS.  notes  of  Dr.  J.  Stayman  in  Poinological  Collections,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 
*>  Letters  from  J.  W.  Kerr,  December,  1906. 

355 


34 

^56  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

J.  Silvanus  Gordon,  of  Sergeantsville,  N.  J.  Mr.  Gordon  had  received 
the  scions  from  Doctor  Stayman  a  short  time  before.0  About  1887 
it  reached  the  nursery  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College,6  appar- 
ently direct  from  Doctor  Stayman,  under  the  same  designation.  In 
1890 c  Mr.  Benjamin  Buckman,  of  Farmingdale,  111.,  received  scions 
of  it  from  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College  orchard  labeled  "  Stay- 
man's  No.  1,"  and  in  1893  under  the  designation  "  Stayman' s  Supe- 
rior" he  received  scions  direct  from  Doctor  Stayman.  Having 
fruited  both  and  finding  them  identical,  in  1901  he  sent  specimens 
of  the  fruit  to  Doctor '  Stayman  for  authentication  of  name,  and 
received  from  him  a  strong  expression  of  his  conviction^  that  the 
apple  sent  was  in  fact  his  "  Stayman's  No.  2."  The  original  tree  is 
reported  by  Mr.  George  H.  Black,  its  present  owner/  to  be  living  still, 
though  it  was  almost  destroyed  by  a  severe  windstorm  in  September, 
1905.  Messrs.  Stayman  and  Black  propagated  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  trees  of  it  for  their  own  planting  in  the  winter  of  1897-98  at 
Leavenworth,  Kans.,  where  some  seventy  trees  about  6  years  old  are 
now  in  bearing. 

The  earliest  publication  of  the  variety  appears  to  have  been  by 
Prof.  L.  H.  Bailey  in  1887/  when,  as  "Stayman's  No.  I/'  it  was 
included  with  several  others  of  Doctor  Stay  man's  seedlings  in  a  list 
of  varieties  growing  at  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College.  In  1896 
Mr.  Benjamin  Buckman  published  the  names  "Stayman's  Superior" 
and  "No.  1  Stayman's"  in  his  "  List  of  Fruit  Varieties,"*7  their  identity 
not  having  been  discovered  at  that  time.  The  first  commercial 
introduction  of  the  variety  appears  to  have  been  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Kerr, 
who  catalogued  it  for  the  fall  of  1898  and  spring  of  1899  as  "  Stay- 
man No.  1." 

It  is  evident  from  Doctor  Stayman's  notes  and  correspondence 
that  at  different  times  he  had  different  names  for  the  variety  under 
consideration,  such  as  "Red  Sap,"  "Stayman's  Superior,"  "Mag- 
net," and  "Magnate,"  and  it  appears  strongly  probable  that  sciors 
were  distributed  by  him  for  testing  under  all  these  names,  as  well  j  s 
under  the  designations  "No.  1"  and  "No.  2."  His  final  choir  e 
appears  to  have  been  " Magnet,  "h  but  conflict  of  this  with  a  previ- 
ously published  variety*  of  Wisconsin  origin  causes  the  present 

a  Letter  from  J.  Silvanus  Gordon,  December,  1906. 

b  Letters  from  Prof.  L.  R.  Taft  and  Prof.  L.  H.  Bailey,  December,  1906,  and  January, 
1907. 

c  Letters  from  Benjamin  Buckman,  December,  1906. 
d  Letter  of  Dr.  J.  Stayman  to  Benjamin  Buckman,  October  3,  1901. 
«  Letter  of  George  H.  Black,  January  12,  1907. 
/Michigan  Agricultural  College  Bulletin  31,  1887,  p.  54. 

0List  of  Fruit  Varieties  in  Private  Experimental  Orchard  of  Benj.  Buckman, 
Farmingdale,  111.,  fall  1896,  pp.  4-5. 

ft  Letter  of  Dr.  J.  Stayman  to  Benj.  Buckman,  December  17,  1900. 
*  Minnesota  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Report,  1890,  p.  36. 


Yearbook   U.   S     Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1906. 


PLATE  XXV. 


MAGNATE  APPLE. 


Yearbook  U.   S    Dept.  of  Agri 


PLATE  XXVII. 


RABUN  APPLE. 


97 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  359 

RABUN    APPLE. 

(SYNONYMS:  Rabun  Bald;  Rabun  Ball,®  through  typographical  error.) 

[PLATE  XXVII.] 

One  of  the  most  promising  new  apples  for  the  lower  Appalachian 
region,  comprising  western  North  Carolina,  eastern  Tennessee,  and 
northern  Georgia,  is  the  Rabun.  Its  history  as  furnished  by  Prof. 
C.  C.  Xewman, 6  of  Clemson  College,  S.  C.,is  substantially  as  follows: 

The  original  tree  was  found  about  1890  by  Mr.  Andy  Hanby  in  clear- 
ing land  on  his  place  on  the  Walhalla  and  Franklin  wagon  road,  about 
13  miles  northeast  of  Clayton,  Ga.,  where  it  still  stands.  It  was 
small  when  found,  and  is  thought  by  Mr.  Hanby  to  have  been  about 
5  years  old  at  that  time.  About  1900  Mr.  Hanby  dug  up  eight  young 
sprouts  about  the  parent  tree  and  planted  them  elsewhere,  all  of  which 
are  now  in  bearing  and  are  identical  with  the  parent  tree.  Fruit  from 
the  original  tree  was  exhibited  at  the  Georgia  State  Fair  in  1904  and 
1905  under  the  name  "  Rabun  Bald,"  which  was  suggested  by  the 
location  of  the  tree,  which  is  on  a  spur  of  Bald  Mountain.  It  has 
since  been  locally  known  under  this  name,  which  is  here  reduced  to 
Rabun  to  conform  to  the  code  of  nomenclature  of  the  American  Porno- 
logical  Society.  It  was  first  described  and  illustrated  by  Prof.  C.  C. 
Xewman  c  in  1905  in  Bulletin  9  of  the  South  Carolina  Agricultural 
Experiment  Station.  Some  2,500  trees  of  this  variety  have  been 
planted  at  Clayton,  Ga.,  but  aside  from  this  it  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  commercially  disseminated. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  oblate,  slightly  ribbed;  size  large;  surface  smooth;  color  yel- 
low, washed  with  mixed  red,  splashed  and  striped  with  bright  crimson; 
dots  numerous,  small,  russet;  cavity  large,  regular,  deep,  russeted; 
stem  short,  stout;  basin  regular,  large,  deep,  of  gradual  slope,  fur- 
rowed; eye  medium  to  large,  closed;  calyx  segments  medium,  con- 
verging, reflexed  at  tip,  tube  long,  flaring;  skin  moderately  thick, 
tenacious:  flesh  yellowish,  fine-grained,  breaking,  juicy;  core  large, 
oblate,  open,  clasping;  seeds  medium,  plump,  brown,  very  numerous; 
flavor  subacid:  quality  good  to  very  good.  Season,  Xovember  to 
March  in  northern  Georgia. 

The  tree  is  described  as  a  stocky,  vigorous  grower,  of  spreading 
habit,  requiring  severe  pruning  when  young.  The  bearing  habit  is 
distinctive  in  that  the  fruit  is  largely  borne  on  spurs  along  the  older 
branches,  the  crop  being  thus  quite  evenly  distributed  throughout  the 

a  South  Carolina  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bulletin  9,  May,  1905,  p.  24. 

&  Letters  of  C.  C.  Xewman,  January,  1907. 

c  South  Carolina  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bulletin  9,  p.  24. 

47: »:.'.- -07 2 


98 

360  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

tree.     The  original  tree  is  a  heavy  croppsr  in  alternate  years,  bearing 
about  a  half  crop  in  the  "  off  year."     It  yielded  15  bushels  in  1905. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  XXVII  was  grown  in  1905  by 
Prof.  C.  C.  Newman,  at  Clayton,  Rabun  County,  Ga. 

EARLY    WHEELER    PEACH. 

(SYNONYMS:   Wheeler  Cling;  Early  Wheeler  Cling.) 

[PLA.TE  XXVIII.] 

The  lengthening  of  the  peach  season  through  the  origination  of  both 
earlier  and  later  varieties  of  good  quality  is  a  matter  of  much  impor- 
tance to  peach  growers,  especially  in  the  Southern  States.  At  the 
present  time  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  trees  in  southern  orchards 
consists  of  the  one  variety,  Elberta,  that  almost  the  entire  peach  crop 
of  each  important  locality  must  be  harvested  and  marketed  within  a 
period  of  ten  days  or  two  weeks.  This  cau'ses  serious  labor  shortage 
at  the  critical  times,  overburdens  transportation  facilities,  and  tends 
to  produce  that  most  expensive  menace  to  profitable  peach  growing, 
a  glutted  market.  If  the  weather  conditions  chance  to  be  unfavorable 
during  this  short  harvest  period,  the  evils  are  accentuated  and  most 
of  the  returns  for  the  year's  work  are  not  infrequently  lost  through 
the  shortness  of  the  marketing  season.  Peach  growers  and  nursery- 
men have  long  recognized  the  need  of  earlier  market  varieties,  and  a 
large  number  of  early  sorts  have  been  brought  into  notice  from  time 
to  time.  Among  these  the  Greensboro,  Carman,  Waddell,  Mamie 
Ross,  and  Hiley  varieties  have  attained  a  more  or  less  stable  foothold 
in  different  sections  as  commercial  sorts. 

Most  of  the  varieties  earlier  than  these,  however,  unless  grown  under 
very  favorable  conditions,  are  of  inferior  flavor  and  deficient  carrying 
quality.  The  Early  Wheeler,  which  was  one  of  a  large  number  of 
seedlings  of  Heath  Cling  grown  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Kirkpatrick,  of  McKin- 
ney,  Tex.,  and  first  fruited  in  1900,  appears  to  be  an  exception  in  these 
respects,  being  as  early  as  Alexander,  as  large  as  Mamie  Ross,  and  of 
as  excellent  dessert  and  shipping  quality  as  Oldmixon  Cling.  It  was 
experimentally  disseminated  by  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  immediately  after  it 
first  fruited,  being  sent  out  as  Early  Wheeler  Cling.  About  1903  this 
was  reduced  to  Early  Wheeler,  and  on  April  17,  1906,  an  arbitrary 
device  bearing  this  name  and  a  portrait  of  the  originator  was  regis- 
tered in  the  United  States  Patent  Office  as  a  trade-mark  by  the  Texas 
Nursery  Company,  of  Sherman,  Tex.,  which  introduced  it  commer- 
cially in  that  year. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oblong  to  oblong  conical;  size  medium  to  large; 

^gular,  large,  broad,  of  medium  depth  and  slope,  marked  with 

?m    short,    moderately    stout;  suture    shallow    except    near 


Yearbook   U.    S     Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1906. 


PLATE  XXVIII. 


f 


EARLY  WHEELER  PEACH. 


Yearbook  U.   S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1906. 


PLATE  XXIX 


BANNER  GRAPE. 


99 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  361 

cavity,  from  which  it  extends  to  the  protruding  apex;  surface  smooth, 
covered  with  loose,  soft,  velvety  down;  color  creamy  white,  marbled, 
splashed  and  dotted  with  crimson;  skin  moderately  thick,  tenacious; 
flesh  whitish,  distinctly  stained  with  red  near  the  skin,  firm  and  meaty, 
but  juicy;  stone  oval,  of  medium  size,  adherent;  flavor  subacid; 
quality  good  to  very  good.  Season,  very  early,  May  15  to  June  1, 
practically  with  Alexander  in  northeastern  Texas.  Leaf  glands  reni- 
form;  blossoms  very  large  and  red. 

The  variety  has  already  been  considerably  planted  in  commercial 
orchards  in  eastern  Texas,  and  while  less  precocious  than  some  sorts, 
is  considered  sufficiently  productive  for  a  commercial  variety. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  XXVIII  was  grown  by  E.  W. 
Kirkpatrick,  at  McKinney,  Tex. 

BANNER   GRAPE. 

[PLATE  XXIX.] 

This  very  promising  variety  for  the  Southwest  is  said  by  its 
originator,  Mr.  Joseph  Bachman,  Altus,  Ark.,°  to  have  been  grown 
in  1898  from  seed  of  Lindley  crossed  with  Delaware.  It  would 
appear  from  the  vigor  and  productiveness  of  the  vine  and  the  large 
size  of  the  cluster,  however,  that  some  other  variety,  probably  one 
of  his  other  seedlings  that  stood  near  by,  was  concerned  in  the  cross, 
And  the  originator  appears  to  incline  to  this  opinion,  as  he  states 
that  the  Lindley  blossoms  were  not  protected  from  other  pollen  at 
the  time  of  pollination  with  Delaware. 

The  original  vine  bore  a  crop  of  twelve  clusters  in  its  third  year, 
1901.  Two  of  these  were  exhibited  by  the  originator  at  the  Pan- 
American  Exposition  in  that  year  under  the  name  Banner,  which 
the  late  Judge  Samuel  Miller  published  for  the  variety  in  a  commu- 
nication in  Column's  Rural  World  for  September  18,  1901.  The 
variety  was  first  propagated  in  1902,  and  was  experimentally  dis- 
seminated in  the  spring  of  1906.  So  far  as  known,  it  has  not  yet 
been  fruited  elsewhere  than  on  the  grounds  of  the  originator.  It  was 
commercially  introduced  in  1906  by  the  Stark  Brothers  Nurseries 
and  Orchards  Company  under  the  name  Banner,  which  when  printed 
in  a  certain  arbitrary  typographical  form  was  registered  by  them  as 
a  trade-mark  in  the  United  States  Patent  Office,  May  1,  1906. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Cluster  large,  broad  conical,  heavily  shouldered,  very  compact; 
stem  short;  berries  globular,  of  medium  size,  adhering  tenaciously 
to  the  small  green  peduncles;  skin  moderately  thick,  and  rather 

tough;  amber  red  and  glossy,  but  covered  with  a  profuse  bloom;  flesh 

. . 

a  Letters  of  Joseph  Bachman,  August  and  September,  1906,  and  January,  1907. 


lOu 


362  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

translucent,  juicy,  and  rather  meaty;  seeds  few,  very  small,  brown; 
flavor  refreshing  subacid  to  sweet  and  aromatic;  quality  good  to 
very  good.  Season,  late  August  and  early  September  in  Franklin 
County,  Ark.,  ten  days  or  two.  weeks  later  than  Delaware. 

The  vine  is  reported  by  the  originator  to  be  very  vigorous  and 

productive. 

The  cluster  illustrated  on  Plate  XXIX  was  grown  by  Mr.  Joseph 
Bachman,  at  Altus,  Franklin  County,  Ark. 

JOSEPHINE    PERSIMMON. 

(SYNONYMS:  American  Honey;  Honey.) 

[PLATE  XXX.] 

Of  the  varieties  of  this  valuable  native  fruit  that  have  thus  far 
been  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  the 
best  in  dessert  quality  is  the  one  here  described.  It  was  received 
first  from  T.  V.  Munson  &  Son,  of  Denison,  Tex.,  who  have  catalogued a 
it  since  1896  as  "American  Honey,"  their  dissemination  consisting 
chiefly  of  seedlings  grown  from  a  top-grafted  tree  standing  upon  their 
grounds.  Attention  to.  the  apparent  identity  of  American  Honey 
and  Josephine,  a  variety  gratuitously  disseminated  by  the  late  Judge 
Samuel  Miller,  of  Bluff  ton,  Mo.,  having  been  called  by  Mr.  Benjamin 
Buckman,6  of  Farmingdale,  111.,  recent  investigation  has  revealed 
the  following  interesting  facts :  » 

About  1882  or  1883  the  late  Judge  Miller  discovered  a  wild  per- 
simmon tree  bearing  fruit  of  superior  quality  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Dennis  Watson,  about  a  mile  east  of  Bluffton,  Mo.c  The  tree  was 
then  about  3  inches  in  diameter,  and  stood  close  to  the  bank  of  the 
Missouri  River,  where  it  was  in  danger  of  being  undermined  by  that 
unruly  stream.  Though  a  large  tree  of  this  species  to  transplant, 
in  1883  Judge  Miller,  with  the  help  of  his  sons,  dug  it  up  and  trans- 
ported it  in  a  small  boat  to  his  home  garden  at  Bluffton.  The  trans- 
planted tree  never  thrived  in  its  new  location,  but  the  variety  was 
preserved  by  grafting,  and  was  gratuitously  disseminated  by  him 
among  his  friends  and  correspondents  in  many  parts  of  the  country. 
Later  he  named  it  Josephine,  in  honor  of  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Watson, 
on  whose  farm  the  original  tree  was  found.  This  name  Mr.  Miller 
published  in  1894.d  Meanwhile,  Prof.  T.  V.  Munson  had  received  from 
Judge  Miller,  about  1883  or  1884,*  three  lots  of  native  persimmon 
scions,  designated  as  follows:  "Flat  fruited,"  "round  fruited,"  and 

a  Letter  of  T.  V.  Munson,  November,  1906. 

&  Benjamin  Buckman  in  Rural  New  Yorker,  February  20,  1904,  p.  130. 

c  Letter  of  Samuel  E.  Miller,  December,  1906. 

dColman's  Rural  World,  February  15,  1894,  p.  51. 

«  Letters  of  T.  V.  Munson,  November,  1906. 


1< 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  363 

"  oblong  fruited."  These  he  grafted  on  native  roots,  getting  one 
tree  of  each  to  grow.  Of  these,  the  ones  labeled  "flat  fruited"  and 
"round  fruited"  bore  fruit,  the  one  labeled  ''oblong  fruited"  proving 
to  be  staminate  flowered,  and  therefore  sterile.  The  flat  one  was  found 
to  be  of  better  quality  than  the  other,  and  after  fruiting  both  for 
several  years,  Professor  Munson,  unaware  that  Judge  Miller  had  mean- 
while disseminated  and  named  it  Josephine,  christened  it  " American 
Honey"  and  offered  it  in  his  catalogue  for  1896,  as  previously 
mentioned. 

The  name  Josephine  having  previously  been  applied  and  published 
by  the  introducer  and  used  on  scions  for  grafting  entitles  it  to  accept- 
ance by  pomologists,  and  it  is  so  accepted  by  Professor  Munson  since 
the  facts  have  become  known. 

The  case  well  illustrates  how  easily  varietal  names  of  fruits  may 
become  confused  during  their  preliminary  testing  periods.  Nothing 
less  than  the  utmost  exactness  and  care  by  disseminators  and  propa- 
gators will  suffice  to  prevent  confusion  and  duplication  of  names  in 
such  cases. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblate  to  roundish  oblate,  or  quadrangular;  size  medium  to 
large;  surface  smooth,  except  shallow  radiating  grooves  near  the 
calyx  and  the  four  sutures;  color  pale,  translucent,  yellowish,  covered 
with  a  profuse  whitish  bloom;  cavity  large,  broad,  of  medium  depth, 
furrowed;  stem  short,  moderately  stout;  calyx  four  parted,  of  me- 
dium size,  pale  green;  apex  a  slender  point  in  a  slight  depression; 
skin  thin,  tender;  flesh  yellowish,  translucent,  with  yellow  veins; 
seeds  rather  numerous,  rather  large,  short,  broad,  plump,  brown; 
flavor  sweet,  rich,  and  aromatic;  quality  very  good.  Season,  early, 
following  Early  Golden. 

The  tree  is  reported  to  bear  regular  crops,  and  the  earliness  and  fine 
quality  of  the  fruit  render  the  variety  worthy  of  test  by  all  persimmon 
growers. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXX  were  grown  by  T.  V. 
Munson  &  Son,  at  Denison,  Tex.,  in  1906. 

CHAPPELOW    AVOCADO. 
[PLATE  XXXI.] 

Interest  in  the  avocado  as  a  salad  fruit  continues  to  increase.  The 
market  demand  is  so  strong  in  eastern  cities  during  late  autumn  and 
winter  that  south  Florida  growers  are  enlarging  their  plantings  of  the 
later  ripening  sorts  of  the  West  Indian  type,  such  as  the  Trapp,a  in 
the  expectation  that  their  culture  will  prove  highly  profitable.  In 
southern  California  quite  a  different  condition  prevails,  the  smaller 
and  more  hardy  Mexican  type  being  apparently  better  adapted  to 

«  Described  and  illustrated  in  Yearbook  for  1905,  p.  508,  Plate  LXVI. 


364  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OP   AGRICULTURE. 

conditions  in  the  localities  where  avocado  culture  has  thus  far  been 
attempted.  While  no  commercial  plantings  as  large  as  those  in  south 
Florida  have  yet  been  made  in  California,  certain  individual  trees  in 
particular  localities  have  proved  productive  and  profitable,  and,  as 
the  local  demand  at  all  times  of  the  year  is  thus  far  in  excess  of  the 
supply,  regularity  of  bearing  and  acceptable  quality  of  fruit  in  that 
State  outweigh  all  other  varietal  characteristics. 

So  far  as  known  the  only  variety  thus  far  perpetuated  by  bud 
propagation  in  California  is  the  Chappelow.  The  original  tree  of  this 
variety  was  grown  by  Mr.  William  Chappelow,  Monrovia,  Cal.,  from 
seeds  sent  him  by  the  Division  of  Pomology  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  in  July,  1893.  The  seeds  had  been  received  shortly  before 
that  time  from  Mr.  F.  Foex,  then  of  Eddy,  N.  Mex.,  who  had  obtained 
them  from  fruits  found  by  him  on  trees  near  Monterey,  Mexico,  where 
they  had  been  subjected  to  a  temperature  of  about  22°  F.  during 
several  consecutive  nights  when  in  blossom  during  the  preceding 
winter.  As  the  other  avocado  trees  of  the  vicinity  had  been  killed  or 
badly  damaged  by  the  low  temperature,  while  these  had  survived  and 
matured  half  a  crop  of  fruit,  it  was  presumed  that  these  were  especially 
resistant  to  cold,  as  has  since  been  proved  true  in  the  case  of  seedlings 
descended  from  them. 

Mr.  Chappelow  grew  but  a  single  tree  from  the  four  seeds  sent  him. 
This  was  grown  in  a  pot  at  first,  being  transplanted  to  thp  open  ground 
when  about  a  foot  high.  The  first  winter,  when  about  4  feet  high,  it 
was  cut  down  to  the  ground  by  a  temperature  of  about  24°  F.,  but  soon 
-  recovered  and  developed  into  a  fine,  vigorous  tree.  It  began  bearing 
in  1898,  and  has  rarely  failed  to  produce  at  least  a  partial  crop  since 
that  time.  Scions  from  this  tree  were  sent  Prof.  P.  H.  Rolfs,  of  the 
Subtropical  Laboratory,  at  Miami,  Fla.,  in  1902,  and  fruits  grown 
on  a  tree  top- worked  therefrom  were  illustrated  by  him  in  1904.  a 
The  variety  was  named  Chappelow  by  Professor  Rolfs b  and  has  since 
been  sparingly  disseminated  under  that  name.  Mr.  Chappelow  has 
not  kept  a  continuous  record  of  the  product  of  the  tree,  but  states 
that  in  1905  it  bore  more  than  1,200  fruits.  The  net  return  to 
him  from  this. tree  in  recent  years,  in  addition  to  fruits  retained  for 
home  use,  has  been  as  follows: c  1903,  $32;  1904,  $54;  1905,  $130; 
1906,  $65.  The  tree  blossoms  at  Monrovia  in  November  and  Decem- 
ber, and  ripens  its  crop  from  July  15  until  September,  sometimes 
continuing  into  early  October. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong,  slender,  pyriform  or  " bottle  necked;"  size  medium 
tojlarge  for  the  Mexican  type;  cavity  small,  shallow,  and  wrinkled; 

;B.  P.  I.  Bulletin  61.     The  Avocado  in  Florida,  July  7,  1904,  fig.  9  B,  p.  26. 

.  I.  Bulletin  97.     S.  P.  I.  Inventory  No.  12934. 
c  Letters  from  William  Chappelow,  August  and  October,  1906. 


Yearbook  U.   S     Dept.  of  Agriculture.    1906. 


PLATE  XXX. 


JOSEPHINE  PERSIMMON. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1906. 


PLATE  XXXI. 


CHAPPELOW  AVOCADO. 


1C 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  365 

stem  stout;  surface  undulating,  smooth,  glossy;  color  dull  purple, 
with  reddish-brown  dots;  apex  a  mere  dot;  skin  very  thin,  tender, 
adhering  closely;  flesh  pale  greenish-yellow,  buttery;  seed  large  in 
proportion  to  size  of  fruit,  roundish  conical,  filling  internal  cavity; 
flavor  pleasant,  though  less  rich  than  the  best  varieties  of  the  West 
Indian  type.  Season,  July  to  October  at  Monrovia,  Cal. 

The  tree  is  a  vigorous,  rather  diffuse  grower,  with  slender  wood.  It 
is  productive,  although  being  an  early  bloomer  it  is  sometimes  caught 
by  frost.  It  is  considered  worthy  of  testing  in  the  thermal  belts  of 
southern  California,  and  for  domestic  use  along  the  northern  edge  of 
the  avocado  districts  of  Florida,  where  its  superior  hardiness  is  likely 
to  outweigh  the  disadvantages  of  relatively  small  size  and  early  time 
of  ripening. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXI  was  grown  on  the  original 
tree  on  the  grounds  of  Mr.  William  Chappelow,  Monrovia,  Cal. 

PECANS. 

[PLATE  XXXII.] 

The  pecan  continues  to  engage  the  attention  of  nut  growers  in  the 
South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  almost  to  the  exclusion  of  other  nut- 
bearing  trees.  The  increasing  popularity  of  the  nut,  doubtless  due 
in  part  to  £he  development  of  systematic  methods  of  grading  and 
cracking  by  machinery  operated  by  steam  or  electric  power,  which 
render  possible  the  marketing  of  the  meats  ready  for  use,  have  com- 
bined to  produce  a  market  demand  considerably  in  excess  of  the 
present  supply.  Under  this  stimulus  and  the  production  of 'consid- 
erable numbers  of  budded  and  grafted  trees  of  choice  varieties  hi 
southern  nurseries  the  planting  of  pecan  orchards  is  proceeding  rap- 
idly in  many  portions  of  the  South.  Much  of  this  planting  up  to  the 
present  time  has  of  necessity  been  done  rather  blindly  as  regards  the 
adaptability  of. varieties  to  soil  and  climatic  conditions,  very  few 
varieties  having  yet  been  fruited  sufficiently  outside  of  the  localities 
of  their  origin  to  determine  their  probable  behavior  elsewhere.  As 
the  earlier  plantings  of  budded  and  grafted  trees  come  into  bearing, 
it  is  unfortunately  becoming  apparent  that  in  the  infancy  of  the 
industry  the  stock  of  several  of  the  leading  varieties  was  consider- 
ably mixed  with  other  sorts.  In  some  pases  closely  related  seedlings 
inferior  to  the  sort  whose  name  they  bore  appear  to  have  been  propa- 
gated from.  This  confusion  of  identity  is  now  giving  rise  to  diverse 
reports  as  to  the  behavior  of  particular  varieties  in  different  sections, 
and  will  doubtless  require  some  years  of  careful  work  by  nurserymen 
and  orchardists  to  rectify. 

Seedling  orchards  grown  from  nuts  of  the  large  varieties,  such  as 
Centennial,  Frotscher,  Stuart,  Van  Deman,  Russell,  etc.,  that  came 
into  public  notice  from  1875  to  1895,  are  now  coming  into  bearing 


104 

366  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

throughout  the  South,  and  as  both  the  trees  and  nuts  commonly  bear 
a  general  resemblance  to  their  parents,  they  are  in  many  instances 
being  discussed  and  even  labeled  with  the  names  of  the  parent  varie- 
ties. As  such  seedlings  are  likely  to  disease  characteristics  even 
more  diverse  from  their  parents  if  budded  or  grafted  from  and  planted 
elsewhere,  they  should  never  be  designated  otherwise  than  as  seed- 
lings until  found  worthy  of  distinctive  varietal  names. 

The  utmost  care  in  selection  of  authentic  stock  of  these  earlier 
varieties  to  bud  and  graft  from  is  necessary  at  the  present  time  to 
insure  trueness  to  name  in  the  nurseries  and  orchards.  It  is  not  safe 
to  use  grafting  or  budding  wood  of  any  of  these  sorts  from  trees  that 
have  not  borne,  except  where  such  stock  can  be  unquestionably  traced 
to  bearing  trees  that  are  true  to  name. 

Less  confusion  exists  among  the  more  recent  introductions,  although 
some  of  these  have  in  various  ways  been  more  or  less  confused  with 
one  another.  A  few  of  the  more  promising  of  the  newer  ones  are 
described  and  illustrated. 

ALLEY  PECAN. 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  was  grown  by  Mrs.  C.  H.  Alley ,a 
of  Scranton,  Miss.,  from  a  pecan  of  unknown  variety  presented  to 
her  by  the  late  Col.-R.  Seal,  of  Mississippi  City,  Miss.,  in  1871.  This 
nut  she  planted  in  a  box  the  same  fall,  transplanting  the  young 
seedling  that  resulted  therefrom  to  its  present  location  in  her  garden 
in  1872.  The  tree  began  bearing  at  the  age  of  about  nine  years  and 
has  the  reputation  of  being  a  steady  and  prolific  bearer.  The  variety 
was  first  propagated  by  Mr.  F.  H.  Lewis,  of  Scranton,  who  set  buds 
and  grafts  of  it  in  1896,  and  since  that  time  it  has  been  considerably 
disseminated  by  him  and  others  under  the  name  Alley.  The  original 
tree  bore  about  200  pounds  of  nuts  in  1905,  and  had  a  fair  crop  when 
the  storm  of  September,  1906,  occurred.  This  destroyed  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  the  crop  and  broke  several  large  branches  from  the 
tree,  though  not  enough  to  permanently  injure  it. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  medium,  averaging  60  to  80  nuts  per  pound ;  form,  oblong  to 
ovate  conical,  with  moderately  sharp  quadrangular  apex;  color, 
bright  yellowish  brown,  with  rather  long  and  conspicuous  black  mark- 
ings; shell  brittle,  thin;  partitions  very  thin;  cracking  quality  excel- 
lent; kernel  plump  and  well  filled  out,  though  deeply  grooved  and 
considerably  undulated  and  irregularly  indented;  kernel  bright, 
brownish  straw  color;  texture  firm  and  fine  grained;  flavor  sweet, 
delicate,  and  free  from  astringence;  quality  very  good. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXII  were  grown  on  the 
original  tree  in  the  garden  of  Mrs.  C.  H.  Alley,  at  Scranton,  Miss. 

0  Letter  from  Mrs.  C.  H.  Alley,  November,  1906. 


105 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  367 

The  tree  is  a  moderately  strong,  though  rather  slender,  grower  and 
is  reported  to  be  productive  in  several  localities  where  it  has  been 
top-worked  during  the  past  five  or  six  years. 

TECHE"  PECAN. 

(SYNONYMS:    "Frotscher  No.  2;"    "Duplicate  Frotscher;"    "Fake  Frotscher;"   "Spuri- 
ous Frotscher.") 

Among  the  budded  trees  of  the  Frotscher  pecan  when  first  dissemi- 
nated by  Mr.  William  Nelson  and  the  late  Mr.  Richard  Frotscher, 
of  New  Orleans,  about  1885,6  it  has  recently  been  discovered  that 
there  were  trees  of  at  least  one  other  variety  quite  closely  resembling 
it  in  wood  and  habit  of  growth,  but  yielding  a  smaller  and  more  con- 
ical nut.  This  sort,  which  reached  a  number  of  growers,  including 
Mr.  J.  B.  Wight,c  of  Cairo,  Ga.,  and  Dr.  J.  B.  Curtis,  of  Orange 
Heights,  Fla.,  in  this  way,  has  proved  to  be  of  sufficient  merit  to 
entitle  it  to  a  distinctive  name.  The  place  of  its  origin  is  not  known, 
but  since  it  appears  to  trace  to  the  first  lot  of  Frotscher  scions  received 
by  Mr.  Nelson  d  from  Mr.  Frotscher  for  propagation,  all  of  which 
were  supposed  to  have  come  from  the  original  Frotscher  tree  near 
Olivier,  La.,  on  the  Bayou  Teche,  it  is  probable  that  the  parent  tree 
of  this  one  was  somewhere  in  that  vicinity.  Acting  on  this  suppo- 
sition, the  committee  on  nomenclature  and  standards  of  the  National 
Nut  Growers'  Association,  at  its  annual  meeting  at  Scranton,  Miss., 
in  November,  1906,  named  the  variety  "Teche"  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  true  Frotscher.  As  there  appears  to  be  good  reason  to  sup- 
pose that  several  other  varieties  closely  resembling  Frotscher  have 
been  and  still  are  mixed  with  that  variety  in  many  orchards  and 
nurseries,  the  name  Teche  should  not  be  indiscriminately  applied  to 
all  the  " spurious"  Frotschers,  but  should  be  restricted  in  its  appli- 
cation to  the  one  which  is  here  described  from  specimens  grown  by 
Mr.  Wight  on  trees  obtained  from  the  Nelson  nursery  in  1895. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  medium  to  large,  averaging  55  to  65  nuts  per  pound ;  form  long 
oval,  compressed,  tapering  gradually,  with  the  smaller  specimens 
slightly  curved  near  apex;  color  bright,  light,  with  few  broken  black 
stripes;  shell  comparatively  thin,  but  thicker  than  Frotscher,  with 
which  it  was  disseminated  through  error;  partitions  thin  and  soft; 
cracking  quality  excellent;  kernel  bright  and  free  from  the  objection- 
able brownish  veining  of  the  Frotscher,  plump  and  uniformly  well 

«  Pronounced  Tesh. 

6  Yearbook,  1904,  p.  408. 

c  Letters  from  J.  B.  Wight,  November,  1906;  also  The  Nut  Grower,  June,  1906,  p.  199. 

<'Wm.  Nelson  in  The  Nut  Grower,  August,  1906,  p.  18. 


YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

filled,  with  shallow  grooves;  texture  of  meat  firm,  fine  grained,  solid, 
creamy  in  color;  flavor  delicate,  rich;  quality  very  good. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXII  were  grown  by  Mr.  J.  B. 

Wight,  Cairo,  Ga. 

The  tree  is  of  more  slender  and  upright  habit  of  growth  than 
Frotscher,  and  is  reported  to  be  fully  as  productive  as  that  variety 
in  Georgia  and  Florida.  It  is  worthy  of  trial  wherever  that  variety 

succeeds. 

CURTIS  PECAN. 

(SYNONYM:  Curtis  No.  2.} 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  was  grown  by  Dr.  J.  B.  Curtis,  of 
Orange  Heights,  Fla.,  from  a  nut  of  the  "Turkey  Egg"  pecan  obtained 
from  Arthur  Brown,  of  Bagdad,  Fla.,  in  1886.  It  bore  about.a  dozen 
nuts  in  1893,  and  has  borne  a  crop  each  year  since  then,  except  in 
1902,  when  heavy  rains  at  blooming  time  prevented  fertilization  of  the 
blossoms.  It  was  first  propagated  by  Doctor  Curtis  in  1896,  and  was 
disseminated  by  him  somewhat  later.  The  original  tree,  though 
heavily  cut  for  scions,  yielded  80  pounds  of  nuts  in  1905. a  The  vari- 
ety appears  to  have  been  first  described  and  illustrated  by  Hume b  in 
1900. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  medium,  60  to  70  nuts  per  pound;  form  ovate  conical,  com- 
pressed, with  a  sharp  pointed  base  and  an  inclination  to  curve  near 
apex;  color  bright,  with  very  few  black  stripes,  but  sparsely  stippled 
with  black  over  most  of  the  surface;  shell  very  thin  and  brittle;  par- 
titions thin;  cracking  quality  good  kernel  very  plump  and  thick,  free 
from  indentation  other  than  the  narrow  grooves,  which  are  of  medium 
depth;  color  bright,  except  certain  brownish  stippling  that  percepti- 
bly darkens  the  tint  in  some  specimens;  texture  firm,  crisp;  flavor 
sweet  and  rich;  quality  very  good. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXII  were  grown  by  Dr.  J.  B. 
Curtis,  at  Orange  Heights,  Fla. 

The  tree  is  reported  to  be  slender  and  rather  pendulous  in  habit 
of  growth  and  regularly  productive.  The  variety  is  of  special  prom- 
ise for  Florida  growers,  as  it  is  one  of  the  few  sorts  that  have  origi- 
nated and  been  thoroughly  tested  in  that  State.  It  is  reported  to  lie 
rather  hard  to  propagate,  the  wood  being  slender  and  the  buds  not 
numerous.  Doctor  Curtis  reports  it  free  from  attack  by  the  bud  worm 
where  such  sorts  as  Rome  and  Centennial  are  badly  damaged  by  it. 

«  Dr.  J.  B.  Curtis  in  the  Nut  Grower,  June,  1906,  pp.  200-201,  and  letter  of  February 
11,  1907. 

b  Florida  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bulletin  54,  August,  1900,  pp.  203-209. 


Yearbook   U.    S     Dept.   of  Agriculture,    1906. 


PLATE  XXXII. 


i 


GEORG'A. 


DELMAS. 


PECAN  VARIETIES. 


10  J 

PROMISING    NEW    FRUITS.  369 

GEORGIA  PECAN. 
i 

(SYNONYM:  Georgia  Giant.} 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  is  one  of  a  large  number  of  seedlings 
grown  in  nursery  row  by  Mr.  G.  M.  Bacon, a  of  Dewitt,  Ga.,  from  nuts 
of  unknown  parentage  in  1885.  Enough  of  these  seedlings  for  a  30- 
acre  orchard  when  planted  30  feet  apart  were  transplanted  to  their 
present  locations  the  following  year.  In  1891  this  tree,  which  was  the 
first  in  the  orchard  to  bear,  yielded  32  nuts,  which  are  said  to  have 
weighed  1  pound.  The  following  year  its  crop  was  1\  pounds,  increas- 
ing annually  until  1902,  when  it  yielded  4£  bushels  of  nuts.  Its  bud 
propagation,  begun  in  that  year,  has  resulted  in  such  heavy  cutting  of 
the  young  wood  that  the  crops  since  then  have  been  comparatively 
light. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  large  to  very  large,  averaging  40  to  50  nuts  per  pound;  form 
round  ovate,  with  a  tendency  toward  inequality  of  sides ;  color  rather 
dull  and  dark  grayish  brown,  sparsely  striped  with  black;  shell  rather 
thick,  with  moderately  thick  and  soft  partitions,  yet  cracking  well; 
kernel  broad,  plump,  rather  bright  and  very  attractive;  texture 
rather  soft  and  inclined  to  be  coarse,  though  of  pleasant  flavor  and 
excellent  quality. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXII  were  grown  by  the  G.  M. 
Bacon  Pecan  Company,  at  Dewitt,  Ga. 

The  tree  is  a  sturdy,  strong  grower,  precocious  and  productive,  and 
worthy  of  thorough  test  throughout  Georgia  and  adjacent  States. 

DELMAS  PECAN. 

The  original  Delmas  pecan  tree  was  grown  from  a  nut  planted  by 
Mr.  A.  G.  Delmas  at  his  place  at  Scranton,  Miss.,  about  1877.  It 
began  bearing  in  1884,  and  has  been  known  under  the  name  Delmas 
since  the  following  year.  It  was  propagated  in  a  limited  way  by  Mr. 
Delmas  about  1890  by  grafting  both  in  nursery  and  orchard.  Its  gen- 
eral dissemination,  however,  appears  to  have  occurred  in  connection 
with  the  "Schley"  about  1902,  mixed  scions  of  the  two  varieties 
received  from  Mr.  Delmas  having  been  grafted  in  the  Pierson  nursery, 
at  Monticello,  Fla.,  and  disseminated  under  the  name  Schley  before 
the  admixture  was  discovered.  The  wood  of  the  Delmas  is  so  much 
stouter  and  more  erect  than  that  of  the  Schley  variety  that  little  diffi- 
culty is  experienced  in  separating  them  even  in  the  nursery  row. 

The  original  Delmas  tree  was  blown  down  by  the  September  storm 
of  1906  before  the  crop  was  ripe,  but  was  severely  headed  back  soon 
thereafter  and  righted,  so  that  it  is  hoped  it  will  survive. 

.  «  Letter  from  H.  C.  White,  Dewitt,  Ga.,  January,  1907. 


1C. 


370  YEARBOOK    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

DESCRIPTION. 


large  to  very  large,  averaging  40  to  50  riuts  per  pound;  form 
oblong  ovate,  rather  pointed  at  base  and  rather  bluntly  quadrangular 
at  apex;  and  distinctly  marked  by  four  conspicuous  ridges  extending 
from  the  apex  nearly  to  the  base  of  the  nut;  color  grayish  brownish, 
sparingly  marked  with  black;  shell  rather  thick,  with  partitions  soft 
but  corky;  cracking  quality  good;  kernel  plump  and  well  filled, 
grooves  rather  narrow,  but  shallow,  and  surface  undulating;  kernel 
bright  straw  color,  very  attractive;  texture  rather  soft  and  open;  flavor 
sweet,  pleasant;  quality  good. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXII  were  grown  by  Mr.  A.  G. 
Delmas,  Scranton,  Miss. 

The  tree  is  a  strong  grower,  of  erect  and  roundish  head,  very  dis- 
tinct from  the  Schley,  with  which  it  has  been  somewhat  mixed  in 
nurseries  and  orchards.  It  is  productive  and  promising  for  the  lower 
pecan  districts,  such  as  the  Gulf  coast  region,  where  it  originated. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 


By 

WM.  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[REPRINT  FROM  YEARBOOK  OP  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1907.] 


48623—08 1 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT   PRINTING  OFFICE  :   1908 


110 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Introduction 305 

Delicious  apple 305 

Ensee  apple 1 1 307 

Lambert  cherry 307 

Miller  persimmon 309 

Ruby  persimmon 310 

King  orange 311 

Sandersha  mango 314 

Pecans 315 

Wolford  pecan .' 315 

President  pecan 316 

Sovereign  pecan 317 

Kincaid  pecan ." 318 

Mantura  pecan 319 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page 

PLATE  XXIX.  Delicious  apple 308 

XXX.  Ensee  apple 308 

XXXI.  Lambert  cherry 308 

XXXII.  Miller  persimmon 310 

XXXIII.  Ruby  persimmon 310 

XXXIV.  Kingorange 312 

XXXV.  Sandersha  mango 314 

XXXVI.  Pecan  varieties 314 

in 


118 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WM.  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

For  many  years  there  has  been  a  strong  tendency  in  the  American 
fruit  trade  to  urge  that  fruit  growers  reduce  the  number  of  varieties 
in  their  commercial  plantations.  TVTien  commercial  fruit  growing 
was  developing  out  of  the  old-time  family  orchard,  with  its  succes- 
sion of  varieties  ripening  throughout  the  season,  such  advice  was 
undoubtedly  good  for  the  average  individual  planter,  but  there  ap- 
pears good  ground  for  the  belief  that  a  point  has  been  reached  in 
several  of  our  orchard  fruits  where  a  wider  range  of  season  and 
quality  would  result  in  a  steadier  net  income  from  the  fruit  crop, 
and  therefore  in  a  sounder  business  condition  in  the  fruit  industry 
in  many  sections.  Attractive  diversity  in  appearance  and  quality 
stimulates  a  demand  for  fruit  among  consumers  and  is  worthy  of 
recognition  by  the  fruit  grower  as  an  important  factor  in  determin- 
ing his  selection  of  varieties  for  planting.  If  he  has  several  varie- 
ties in  his  orchard  rather  than  a  single  one  or  two,  the  advantages 
of  cross  pollination  are  secured  also,  and  the  risk  of  loss  of  crop 
through  unfavorable  weather  at  the  blossoming  season  is  reduced. 

The  varying  requirements  of  our  domestic  and  foreign  markets 
and  the  importance  of  growing  in  each  section  of  the  country  those 
varieties  that  are  best  adapted  to  the  climatic  and  cultural  condi- 
tions there,  render  familiarity  with  new  types  and  varieties  important 
to  all  progressive  fruit  growers. 

The  present  article,  in  connection  with  those  that  have  preceded  it 
on  the  same  subject  in  the  Yearbook  since  1901,  calls  attention  to 
several  recently  introduced  or  little-known  fruits  that  are  considered 
worthy  of  testing  in  various  sections  of  the  country. 

DELICIOUS    APPLE. 
[PLATE  XXIX.] 

This  variety  first  came  to  notice  in  the  orchard  of  the  late  Jesse 
Hiatt,  of  Peru,  Madison  County,  Iowa,  about  1881.  It  was  then  a 
sprout,  supposed  to  be  about  6  years  old,  from  the  stock  of  a  Yellow 
Bellflower  tree,  the  top  of  which  had  been  destroyed.  The  beauty  and 

305 


-•• 


806  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

fine  quality  of  the  fruit  attracted  Mr.  Hiatt's  attention  and  he  at 
once  began  its  propagation  in  a  small  way  for  his  own  planting. 
The  tree  proved  to  be  a  hardy,  vigorous,  upright  grower,  with  very 
heavy,  dark-green  foliage,  and  a  regular  annual  bearer.  At  15  years 
of  age  the  original  sprout  was  reported  to  be  13  inches  in  diameter 
at  the  ground.  The  originator  stated  in  1896  that  while  three-fifths 
of  his  orchard  had  been  destroyed  by  drought  and  cold  during  the 
preceding  eight  years,  "  Delicious "  had  not  been  injured  in  any 
respect.  The  name  "  Hawkeye  "  was  at  one  time  applied  to  the  va- 
riety by  the  Hiatt  family  and  locally  used,  but  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  published  in  connection  with  it  and  is  therefore  not  en- 
titled to  recognition  as  a  synonym. 

The  right  to  propagate  and  sell  the  variety  for  a  term  of  five  years 
having  been  sold  to  the  Stark  Brothers  Nurseries  and  Orchards  Com- 
pany about  1894,  with  the  right  to  rename  the  variety,0  it  was  com- 
mercially introduced  by  that  firm  in  1895  under  the  name  "  Delicious," 
which  word  was  registered  in  the  United  States  Patent  Office  as  a 
trade-mark  July  4,  1905. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish  conic,  sometimes  indistinctly  ribbed  and  knobbed  at 
apex;  size  medium  to  large;  surface  smooth,  glossy,  taking  a  high 
polish  when  rubbed  slightly;  color  clear,  translucent,  pale  yellow, 
washed  over  most  of  the  surface  with  mixed  red,  striped  and  splashed 
with  dark  crimson,  and  in  dry  climates  covered  with  a  thin  whitish 
bloom ;  dots  numerous,  small  yellow ;  cavity  regular,  of  medium  size, 
deep,  russeted;  stem  medium  to  long,  stout,  curved,  downy;  basin 
regular,  of  medium  size,  depth,  and  slope,  slightly  furrowed  and 
somewhat  downy ;  calyx  segments  medium,  converging,  eye  of  medium 
size,  closed;  skin  moderately  thick,  tenacious;  core  of  medium  size, 
oval,  clasping,  open;  seeds  numerous,  plump,  medium,  brown;  flesh 
yellowish,  moderately  fine  grained,  breaking,  juicy;  flavor  mild  sub- 
acid,  quality  very  good.  Season  December  to  March,  in  Madison 
County,  Iowa. 

Though  lacking  such  marked  and  distinctive  quality  as  character- 
izes our  best  apples,  such  as  Esopus,  Jonathan,  Northern  Spy,  Grimes, 
and  Yellow  Newtown,  this  variety  is  acceptable  to  most  palates  and  is 
apparently  entitled  to  high  rank  as  a  dessert  fruit.  The  tree  is  a 
strong,  upright  grower,  apparently  sufficiently  productive  to. satisfy 
commercial  requirements.  In  the  locality  of  its  origin  it  is  apparently 
rather  susceptible  to  apple  scab  and  will  therefore  need  to  be  thor- 
oughly sprayed  for  that  disease  in  cool  and  humid  climates.  It  has 
been  fruited  on  young  trees  during  the  past  four  or  five  years  in  most 
of  the  apple  districts  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  appears  to  be 

a  Letter  of  S.  L.  Hiatt,  Peru,  Iowa,  November  7,  1905. 


115 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  307 

specially  promising  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  and  Pacific  coast  States. 
The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXIX  was  grown  by  Mr.  S.  L. 
Hiatt,  Peru,  Madison  County,  Iowa. 

ENSEE  APPLE. 
[PLATE  XXX.] 

This  promising  new  sort  originated  about  1880  as  a  chance  seed- 
ling near  a  place  where  cider  had  been  made  in  earlier  years  on  the 
farm  of  the  late  Xelson  Cox,  in  Windsor  Township,  Lawrence 
County,  Ohio.  Little  notice  was  taken  of  it  for  several  years  after 
it  began  bearing,  until  1895,  when  its  crop  began  to  attract  attention. 
Since  then  it  has  been  somewhat  disseminated  in  an  experimental 
way,  and  commercially  to  a  slight  extent  by  the  sons  of  Mr.  Cox. 

The  tree  is  described  as  rather  upright  and  spreading  in  habit,  with 
rather  pale  bark.  It  blossoms  just  after  Ben  Davis  and  is  considered 
a  productive  and  regular  bearer. 

The  coined  name  "  Ensee  "  was  applied  to  the  variety  about  1898 
in  perpetuation  of  the  apple  brand  (N.  C.)  of  the  originator,  who 
was  for  many  years  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  commercial 
apple  growers  of  his  region. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  to  roundish  oblate;  size  large;  surface  rather 
smooth,  undulating;  color  pale  yellow  washed  with  mixed  red, 
splashed  and  brokenly  striped  with  bright  crimson,  frequently  over- 
spread with  gray ;  dots  variable,  some  russeted  and  aureole,  many  of 
those  near  the  apex  being  indented ;  cavity  irregular,  large,  deep,  ab- 
rupt, russeted,  and  sometimes  lipped;  stem  short,  moderately  stout; 
basin  deep,  abrupt,  furrowed,  downy;  calyx  segments  small,  con- 
verging, reflexed  at  tip;  eye  small,  nearly  closed;  skin  thick,  tena- 
cious ;  core  of  medium  size,  roundish,  clasping,  open ;  seeds  numerous, 
of  medium  size,  plump ;  flavor  subacid,  rich ;  quality  very  good.  Sea- 
son late  autumn  and  early  winter  in  Lawrence  County,  Ohio,  keep- 
ing well  in  cold  storage.  This  variety  is  apparently  deserving  of 
test  throughout  the  Middle  States  and  the  irrigated  valleys  of  the 
West,  as  it  is  an  apple  of  large  size  and  fine  quality,  adapted  to  home 
use  and  special  markets.  The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  XXX 
was  grown  by  Cox  Brothers,  Rockwood,  Lawrence  County,  Ohio. 

LAMBERT   CHERRY. 
[PLATE  XXXI.] 

The  large  size  and  fine  color  of  the  sweet  cherries  grown  in  the  Wil- 
lamette and  Columbia  river  valleys  in  Oregon  have  for  many  years 
attracted  the  attention  of  cherry  growers  and  users  to  those  sections. 


lib 

308  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

which  seem  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  production  of  this  fruit,  For- 
tunately for  the  reputation  of  the  Willamette  Valley,  the  earliest 
introduction  of  cherries  there  (in  1848  by  Henderson  Lewelling,  at 
Milwaukee,  Oreg.)  appears  to  have  included  some  of  the  choicest 
varieties,  so  that  the  planters  of  that  district  were  not  compelled  to 
go  through  the  long  and  trying  experience  with  seedlings  of  indiffer- 
ent quality  that  is  common  in-  newly  settled  regions.  At  the  same 
time  some  very  promising  seedlings  from  these  older  sorts  have  in 
recent  years  come  to  light,  some  of  which,  such  as  Republican,  Bing, 
and  Hoskins,  have  attained  considerable  commercial  importance. 

One  of  the  most  promising  of  these  new  sorts  is  the  Lambert. 
This  variety  appears  to  have  originated  °  as  a  seedling  under  a  Na- 
poleon (syn.  Royal  Ann)  tree  in  the  orchard  now  owned  by  Mr.  J. 
H.  Lambert,  at  Milwaukee,  Oreg.,  which  was  planted  by  the  late 
Henderson  Lewelling  during  and  shortly  after  1848.  This  seedling 
tree,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  cross  of  Black  Heart  on  Na- 
poleofi,  was  grafted  to  May  Duke  before  it  reached  bearing  age  and 
transplanted  to  a  location  at  one  end  of  the  old  orchard.  About 
1880  the  May  Duke  top  was  broken  off  or  died,  and  a  sprout  from 
the  seedling  stock  was  permitted  to  form  a  new  top  to  the  tree.  When 
it  came  into  bearing  its  fruit  attracted  Mr.  Lambert's  attention,  and 
shortly  after  1890  small  shipments  of  it  sent  to  Boston  and  other 
eastern  markets  sold  at  much  higher  prices  than  other  varieties 
shipped  at  the  same  time. 

In  1895  Mr.  Lambert  gave  to  the  Oregon  State  Horticultural  So- 
ciety the  exclusive  right  to  propagate  and  disseminate  the  variety 
from  the  original  tree  and  a  few  trees  that  he  had  grown  from  it,  but 
scions  having  been  previously  secured  by  other  persons  without  his 
knowledge,  the  society  derived  little  financial  benefit  from  its  intro- 
duction. 

So  far  as  known,  it  has  not  been  extensively  planted  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  but  it  is  considered  worthy  of  testing  wherever 
sweet  cherries  thrive. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  oblong,  heart-shaped;  size  large  to  very  large;  cavity  of 
medium  size  and  depth,  with  gradual  slope;  stem  medium  to  long, 
rather  slender;  suture  a  mere  line,  terminating  in  a  russet  dot  in  a 
slight  depression  at  the  apex;  surface  smooth,  except  for  numerous 
fine  indented  dots;  color  light  red,  beautifully  marbled  with  darker 
red;  skin  moderately  thick,  tenacious;  stone  oval,  rather  large,  ad- 
hering rather  closely  to  flesh;  flesh  purplish  red,  with  lighter  mar- 

«  Letters  of  E.  L.  Smith,  Hood  River,  Oreg.,  and  H.  M.  Williamson,  Portland, 
Oreg.,  August,  1907. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   OepL  of  Agriculture.   I9G7. 


PLATE  XXIX 


•L 


DEUCIOUS  APPLE 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Oept.  of  Agriculture,    1907. 


PLATE  XXX. 


ENSEE  APPLE 


Yearbook  U.  S.  -Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1907. 


PLATE  XXXI. 


LAMBERT  CHERRY. 


PROMISING   NEW    FRUITS.  309 

bling,  meaty,  juicy;  flavor  sweet,  rich;  quality  good  to  very  good. 
Season  rather  late,  following  Bing. 

The  fruit  is  borne  in  large  clusters,  a  twig  3J  inches  long  received 
in  1907  having  23  well-developed  fruits  upon  it.  The  tree  is  a  strong 
and  vigorous  grower,  with  large  leaves. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXI  were  grown  by  Mr.  J.  R. 
Xunnamaker,  Hood  River,  Oreg. 

MILLER  PERSIMMON. 
[PLATE   XXXII.] 

While  the  Japanese  persimmon  or  kaki  (Diospyros  kaki)  has  re- 
ceived much  more  attention  from  American  fruit  growers  than  our 
native  species,  the  most  widely  distributed  and  abundant  of  these, 
Diospyros  virginiana,  is  gradually  creeping  into  cultivation  and  will 
doubtless  eventually  be  recognized  as  an  important  economic  species 
throughout  our  southern  States.  Though  lacking  the  large  size  and 
brilliant  color  of  the  Oriental  type,  the  superior  hardiness  of  the  tree 
of  the  native  species,  coupled  with  its  regularity  of  bearing  and  en- 
durance of  climatic  vicissitudes,  largely  compensates  for  these  short- 
comings. The  choice  varieties  that  are  gradually  being  brought  to 
light  are  also  of  richer  flavor  and  finer  quality  than  any  of  the 
Japanese  sorts  yet  introduced. 

One  of  the  largest  and  most  promising  of  these  from  the  com- 
mercial standpoint  is  the  Miller,  which  was  discovered  by  Col.  J.  C. 
Evans  in  1894,  in  Jackson  County,  Mo.,  in  an  abandoned  field  on 
the  farm  of  a  man  bearing  that  name.0  Colonel  Evans  secured  scions 
from  this  tree  and  now  has  an  orchard  of  200  trees  of  the  variety 
in  bearing.  He  finds  it  a  regular  and  abundant  bearer  and  markets 
the  fruit  in  Kansas  City  and  other  city  markets  in  8-pound  grape 
baskets,  which  usually  sell  for  50  to  75  cents.  At  these  prices  he 
considers  it  the  most  profitable  fruit  he  grows.  He  contemplates 
using  paper  boxes  of  a  size  that  will  hold  about  1  dozen  persimmons, 
so  that  the  fruit  can  be  left  on  the  tree  until  it  begins  to  soften  and 
still  stand  shipment  for  considerable  distances. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oblate ;  size  large  to  very  large  for  its  class ;  cavity 
regular,  small,  shallow;  calyx  large,  4  or  sometimes  5  parted;  stem 
short,  moderately  stout;  apex  a  point  protruding  from  a  very  slight 
depression;  surface  moderately  smooth;  color  reddish,  translucent, 
covered  with  profuse  bluish  white  bloom;  flesh  yellowish,  translu- 
cent, with  yellow  veins  and  quite  meaty ;  seeds  medium,  plump, 
broad,  brown,  rather  numerous;  flavor  sweet  and  rich,  though 

0  Letter  of  J.  C.  Evans,  Harlem,  Mo.,  October,  1907. 
48623—08 2 


IIS 

310  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

slightly  astringent  until  fully  ripe  and  soft.  It  ripens  in  September 
in  Jackson  County,  Mo.,  on  thin  dry  land,  but  on  richer  soil  and 
under  cultivation  is  considerably  later  and  can  be  marketed  during 
a  period  of  several  weeks  during  autumn  and  early  winter  without 
resorting  to  cold  storage.  The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate 
XXXII  were  grown  by  Col.  J.  C.  Evans,  Harlem,  Mo. 

The  tree  is  a  strong  grower  and  regularly  productive.  It  is  con- 
sidered worthy  of  testing  in  all  persimmon-growing  sections  where 
a  large  variety,  ripening  late,  is  desired. 

RUBY  PERSIMMON. 

(SYNONYM:  Little' 's  Ruby.) 

[PLATE  XXXIII.] 

This  choice  variety  was  disseminated  by  the  late  James  A.  Little, 
of  Cartersburg,  Ind.,  about  1897,a  the  exact  time  and  place  of  its 
origin  being  at  the  present  time  unknown.  It  is  supposed  to  have 
reached  Mr.  Little  in  the  form  of  scions  from  a  cor  respondent. &  It 
has  been  somewhat  confused  with  a  variety  experimentally  dissemi- 
nated by  the  late  Judge  Samuel  Miller  about  1899  or  1900  under  the 
same  name,  which  was  found  as  a  wild  tree  on  his  grounds  at  Bluffton, 
Mo.,  about  1883.c 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oblate;  size  medium;  cavity  regular,  of  medium 
size,  shallow ;  calyx  4-lobed,  entire ;  stem  short,  rather  slender ;  apex 
small,  protruding;  surface  smooth;  color  yellowish  red,  shading 
into  deep  red,  and  covered  with  a  thin  whitish  bloom;  dots  minute; 
skin  thin,  rather  tender;  seeds  rather  small,  plump,  broAvn,  few  (4 
to  6) ;  flesh  translucent,  dark  orange  color,  meaty,  moderately  juicy, 
sweet,  though  with  a  slightly  astringent  aftertaste  until  fully  ripe; 
quality  very  good. 

Season  variable,  ripening  without  frost,  though  hanging  to  the 
tree  until  after  freezing  if  not  harvested  earlier.  The  tree  is  abun- 
dantly productive  in  Hendricks  County,  Ind.,  and  is  reported  to  be 
so  at  Farmingdale,  111.,  by  Mr.  Benjamin  Buckman,-*  who  has 
fruited  it  there.  Though  of  only  medium  size,  the  earliness,  beauty, 
fine  quality,  and  productiveness  of  this  variety  render  it  very  prom- 
ising for  growers  in  the  more  northern  portions  of  the  persimmon 
region. 

Mr.  Little  reported  that  he  was  unable  to  supply  the  demand  for  it 
in  the  Indianapolis  market  at  10  cents  per  pint  when  marketed  in 

0  Letter  of  F.  O.  Harrington,  Williamsburg,  Iowa,  March,  1908. 
6  Letter  of  Alonzo  Little,  Cartersburg,  Ind.,  March,  1908. 
c  Letter  of  Samuel  E.  Miller,  Bluffton,  Mo.,  March,  1908. 
d  Letter  of  Benj.  Buckman,  Farmingdale,  111.,  Nov.  1,  1907. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1907. 


PLATE  X  X  X 1 1. 


MILLER  PERSIMMON 


THC  SACKCTT  ft  WILMCLMS  Co.K .  Y. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,   1907. 


PLATE  XXXIII. 


RUBY  PERSIMMON. 


Trie  SACK  err  AWiute  LIU  CO.N.Y. 


.    JL-L  t> 

PROMISING   NEW    FRUITS.  311 

common  pint  berry  boxes  packed  in  crates.  With  this  and  other  va- 
rieties he  found  that  the  number  of  seeds  per  fruit  was  considerably 
less  when  they  were  grown  at  a  distance  from  male  trees,  though  the 
flavor  and  quality  of  the  fruit  appeared  to  be  sHghtly  lowered  as  the 
number  of  seeds  was  reduced.  v  The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate 
XXXIII  were  grown  by  the  late  James  A.  Little  at  Cartersburg,  Ind. 

KING  ORANGE. 

(SYNONYM.:  King   of   Siam.) 

[PLATE    XXXIV.] 

This  most  interesting  and  delicious  orange  has,  from  the  time  of 
its  introduction  to  this  country,  been  classed  with  the  mandarins  and 
tangerines  under  Citrus  nobilis,  but  is  so  distinct  in  tree,  fruit,  and 
time  of  ripening  from  the  "  kid  glove  "  representatives  of  that  species 
that  it  appears  worthy  of  recognition  as  a  distinct  horticultural 
group  if  not  as  a  subspecies.  It  is  apparently  the  first  citrus  variety 
of  high  quality  to  reach  the  United  States  by  direct  importation  from 
the  early  home  of  the  genus  in  farther  India,  rather  than  by  slow  mi- 
gration through  western  Asia  and  the  Mediterranean  region  of 
Europe. 

The  variety  appears  to  have  been  introduced  through  the  interest 
aroused  in  the  mind  of  Mrs.  Dr.  S.  R.  Magee/  of  Riverside,  Cal.,  by 
an  account  in  a  magazine  of  an  orange  of  high  quality  grown  in 
China.  In  an  effort  to  secure  trees  of  this  she  wrote  to  her  personal 
friend  and  former  fellow-townsman,  Hon.  John  A.  Bingham,  then 
United  States  minister  to  Tokyo,  for  assistance.  This  correspondence 
resulted  in  the  shipment  by  Minister  Bingham  to  Doctor  Magee  of 
six  fruits  secured  at  Saigon,  Cochin  China,  packed  in  powdered  char- 
coal, which  reached  him  in  February,  1880,  after  having  been  about 
two  months  in  transit.^ 

Two  of  these  fruits  were  decayed  when  received,  but  one  of  the 
sound  ones,  which  was  tested  on  arrival,  was  pronounced  by  those 
who  tasted  it  superior  in  texture  and  flavor  to  any  oranges  previously 
tested  by  them.  It  was  stated  in  the  reports  published  at  the  time 
that  Minister  Bingham  reported  when  he  sent  the  fruits  that  the 
gardener  in  the  "  Imperial  Gardens,"  from  which  the  fruit  was 
taken,  stated  that  it  would  be  almost  impossible  so  to  pack  the  trees 
that  they  would  stand  so  long  a  journey,  but  that  this  fruit  could  be 
propagated  from  the  seed.  Doctor  Magee  accordingly  planted  the 
seeds  of  these  oranges  and  grew  from  them  by  the  following  autumn 
30  seedlings  a  foot  high.  He  had  meanwhile  renewed  the  request 

a  Statement  of  Mrs.  J.  K.  Magee,  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  April  6,  1908. 

6  Riverside  Press  and  Horticulturist,  February  14,  1880,  and  October  16,  1880. 


312  YEARBOOK    OF    THE   DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

for  trees  of  the  variety,  and  in  October  of  the  same  year  received 
from  Minister  Bingham,  via  S.  S.  Peking,  a  box  containing  "  twenty- 
five  young  plants  of  the  King  Orange,"  °  sent  just  as  they  were  re- 
ceived from  Saigon.  Minister  Bingham  stated  that  he  had  secured 
these  through  the  favor  of  his  esteemed  colleague,  Mons.  R.  de  Bollay, 
charge  d'affaires  of  France  in  Japan.  These  imported  trees  appear 
to  have  been  seedlings  and  from  the  botanic  garden  at  Saigon,  where 
the  .French  had  been  in  control  for  some  thirteen  years  prior  to  1880. 

Whether  both  the  imported  trees  and  the  seedlings  grown  by  Doctor 
Magee  were  budded  from  is  not  entirely  clear,  but  that  more  than  one 
seedling  tree  was  thus  perpetuated  seems  strongly  probable  and  pos- 
sibly accounts  for  the  rather  wide  range  in  habit  of  growth,  thorni- 
ness  of  wood,  and  quality  of  fruit  found  under  this  varietal  name 
to-day. 

Doctor  Magee  appears  to  have  first  sold  trees  of  it  in  1882,&  but 
so  far  as  known  the  variety  was  first  fruited  in  America  by  Mr.  J.  E. 
Cutter  about  1885  on  top-budded  trees,  specimens  grown  by  him 
having  been  sent  to  the  New  Orleans  Exposition  in  that  year.  Mr. 
Cutter  sent  specimens  of  the  fruit  to  the  late  William  Saunders, 
Horticulturist  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  in  March,  188T,C 
these  being  the  first  that  reached  the  Department.  Mr.  Cutter  is 
reported  to  have  developed  a  much  less  thorny  strain  than  that  first 
disseminated,5  and  most  of  the  stock  of  King  grown  in  Florida  ap- 
pears to  trace  to  his  dissemination  of  the  variety,  though  according 
to  Reasoner  e  two  of  the  imported  trees  and  buds  from  others  were 
sent  to  Mr.  John  Carville  Stovin  at  Winter  Park,  Fla.,  in  1882,  pre- 
sumably by  Doctor  Magee.  The  variety  also  reached  Florida  in  1882 
in  the  form  of  buds  received  from  Doctor  Magee  by  the  Beed,  Knox 
&  Beed  Company,  of  Bulow,  Volusia  County,  in  July  of  that  year.f 
These  buds  were  considered  by  Mr.  L.  B.  Knox  to  have  been  cut 
from  a  single  tree,  and  as  the  trees  grown  from  them  were  very 
thorny  Mr.  Knox  and  his  associates  practiced  systematic  bud  selec- 
tion in  their  propagation  with  a  view  to  getting  rid  of  the  thorns. 
In  this  effort  they  rebudded  some  of  the  trees  twice  in  a  season,  and 
were  eventually  successful  in  reducing  the  thorniness  to  a  considerable 
extent.  About  1884  and  for  some  time  thereafter  they  disseminated 
the  variety  considerably  through  Florida.  On  March  10,  1887,  they 

«  Letter  of  Hon.  John  A.  Bingham  to  Dr.  S.  R.  Magee,  September  16,  1880,  fur- 
nished by  Doctor  Magee's  daughter,  Mrs.  Cunningham,  of  Riverside,  Cal.,  April, 
1908. 

6  Riverside  Press  and  Horticulturist,  July  8,  1882. 

c  Letter  of  J.  E.  Cutter  to  William  Saunders,  March  12,  1887. 

d  Letter  of  E.  L.  Koethen,  Riverside,  Cal.,  March,  1908. 

e  Division  of  Pomology  Bulletin  No.  1,  1888,  p.  73. 

f  Letter  of  L.  B.  Knox,  April  22,  1908. 


PROMISING   NEW    FRUITS.  313 

shipped  to  New  York  the  first  box  of  fruit  of  the  variety  marketed 
in  the  United  States.  This  box  is  reported  to  have  sold  for  $7  in  that 
market. 

The  variety  has  not  proved  well  adapted  to  the  present  citrus  dis- 
tricts of  California  and  has  attained  little  commercial  importance 
there.  In  certain  localities  in  Florida  it  attains  high  perfection, 
however,  and  when  well  grown,  so  as  to  be  free  from  thorn  scars  and 
sunburn,  it  brings  higher  prices  in  northern  cities  late  in  spring  than 
any  other  variety  grown  in  that  State. 

The  tree  is  of  stiff  and  upright  habit,  sprawling  awkwardly  when 
in  fruit,  and  is  peculiarly  subject  to  breakage  of  limbs,  owing  to  the 
brittleness  of  its  wood.  As  introduced  the  variety  was  very  thorny, 
but  the  strain  disseminated  by  Mr.  Cutter  is  a  distinct  improvement 
in  this  respect.  The  evident  close  reproduction  of  the  more  impor- 
tant and  desirable  characteristics  through  seed  suggests  the  strong 
probability  of  the  existence  of  other  desirable  allied  sorts  in  the 
region  from  which  it  came. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblate  to  roundish  oblate,  often  irregular;  size  medium  to 
large ;  surface  lumpy  and  uneven,  frequently  giving  the  fruit  a  rather 
uncouth  appearance;  oil  cells  large,  numerous,  depressed;  color  dark 
reddish  orange ;  base  often  contracted  and  grooved ;  calyx  small ;  stem 
slender;  apex  an  irregular  dot  in  a  broad,  shallow  depression;  rind 
moderately  thick,  rather  soft,  and  possessing  a  distinctive  aroma  and 
flavor,  agreeable  to  most  persons;  much  more  closely  adherent  to  the 
flesh  than  that  of  the  true  mandarins ;  segments  10  to  13,  fairly  even 
in  size,  rather  loosely  attached,  leaving  an  open,  pithy  center;  flesh 
very  dark  orange,  loose  and  soft  in  texture,  with  large,  tender  juice 
vesicles;  seeds  rather  numerous,  medium  to  large,  long,  pale  green; 
juice  abundant,  having  a  rich  orange  color  when  fully  ripe  and  a 
peculiarly  rich,  sweet,  sirupy  flavor,  with  a  distinctive  and  agreeable 
aroma ;  quality  very  good ;  season  late,  March  to  May  in  the  Florida 
orange  districts. 

As  found  in  the  markets  the  fruit  of  King  is  quite  variable,  the 
same  "  strap  "  or  half  box  often  containing  specimens  of  the  very 
highest  quality  and  flavor  with  others  of  indifferent  quality.  This 
fruit  probably  needs  more  protection  against  sudden  and  extreme  cli- 
matic changes  than  most  varieties  of  its  class,  but  taken  at  its  best  it 
ranks  with  the  very  best  oranges  in  quality  and  is  therefore  worthy 
of  the  attention  of  commercial  growers  for  special  markets  that 
demand  and  will  pay  for  such  quality.  The  specimen  illustrated  on 
Plate  XXXIV  was  grown  by  Mr.  John  Fabyan  at  Conant,  Lake 
County,  Fla. 


122 

314  YEARBOOK    OF    THE   DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

SANDERSHA  MANGO. 

(SYNONYMS:  Sandershaw,  Soondershaw,  Sundershah.) 
[PLATE   XXXV.] 

Since  the  superiority  of  quality  of  the  choice  Indian  varieties  of 
the  mango  over  that  of  the  common  seedlings  of  tropical  and  sub- 
tropical America  became  evident  through  the  fruiting  of  the  Mulgoba 
in  Florida  in  1898  and  subsequent  years,  there  has  been  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  introduction  of  other  reputed  choice  varieties  of  this 
most  interesting  fruit.  A  large  number  of  such  have  been  brought 
from  India  and  some  from  other  tropical  countries  by  the  Office  of 
Seed  and  Plant  Introduction  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  while 
private  enterprise  has  become  sufficiently  interested  to  import  con- 
siderable numbers  of  certain  sorts. 

Of  those  that  have  fruited  sufficiently  in  Florida  thus  far  to  dis- 
close their  distinctive  characteristics,  the  Sandersha  is  one  of  the  most 
unique  and  in  certain  respects  the  most  promising.  It  was  introduced 
by  the  then  Section  of  Seed  and  Plant  Introduction  in  1901  a  (S.  P.  I. 
No.  7108),  having  been  received  from  A.  Lehmann,  Ph.  D.,  Banga- 
lore, India,  on  July  31  of  that  year  in  the  form  of  two  inarched  trees. 
A  second  lot  of  inarched  trees  received  from  Mr.  W.  Gollan,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Government  Botanic  Garden  at  Saharanpur,  India, 
under  the  name  "  Sundershah  "  (S.  P.  I.  No.  10665)  has  not  yet 
fruited,  but  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  sort.  Little  appears  to  have 
been  published  in  India  regarding  the  variety,  but  at  the  Subtrop- 
ical Laboratory  of  the  Department  at  Miami,  Fla.,  where  it  has  been 
fruited  for  two  seasons,  it  has  proved  very  productive,  of  exception- 
ally large  size,  fine  dessert  quality,  and  very  late  ripening  season,  all 
of  which  points  are  apparently  in  its  favor  as  a  commercial  sort.  Mr. 
P.  J.  Wester,  of  the  Subtropical  Laboratory,  considers  cross  pollina- 
tion necessary  to  insure  productiveness. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  long,  compressed,  and  rather  slender,  tapering  toward  stem 
and  terminating  in  a  distinct  curved  beak  at  the  apex ;  size  very  large, 
averaging  about  20  ounces  in  weight,  and  occasionally  attaining  a 
weight  of  2  pounds;  stem  stout,  apex  prominent,  curved  and  "beaked;" 
surface  smooth;  color  clear  yellow,  with  a  faint  pinkish  blush  in 
the  sun ;  dots  numerous,  small,  russeted ;  skin  moderately  thick ;  seed 
long,  curved,  thin,  small  in  proportion  to  size  of  fruit  and  thick- 
ness of  flesh;  flesh  rich  reddish  yellow,  juicy  and  tender,  almost  en- 
tirely free  from  fiber;  flavor  sprightly  and  refreshing  in  the  fresh 
state,  though  with  rather  less  aroma  than  Mulgoba.  Its  higher  acid- 
ity will  doubtless  render  it  more  acceptable  for  serving  in  sliced 

0  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  Bulletin  66,  p.  131,  Feb.  8,  1905. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Deot.  of  Agriculture,    1907. 


PLATE  XXXV 


SANDERSHA  MANGO. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1907. 


PLATE  XXXVI 


PRESIDED 


PECAN  VARIETIES 


PROMISING   NEW    FRUITS.  315 

form  than  are  most  of  the  mangoes  thus  far  obtainable  in  our  markets. 
Season  very  late,  ripening  the  latter  part  of  August  at  Miami,  Fla. 
Sandersha  is  considered  well  worthy  of  testing  .in  the  mango  districts 
of  Florida,  Porto  Rico,  and  Hawaii.  The  specimen  illustrated  on 
Plate  XXXV  was  grown  at  the  Subtropical  Laboratory  of  the  Bu- 
reau of  Plant  Industry  at  Miami,  Fla. 

PECANS. 
[PLATE  XXXVI.] 

As  more  attention  is  paid  to  the  pecan  as  a  nut  producer  in  distinc- 
tion from  it  as  a  forest  species  it  becomes  increasingly  apparent  that 
only  a  very  small  proportion  of  the  trees  thus  far  brought  to  notice 
possess  sufficient  merit  to  justify  their  perpetuation  and  dissemination 
under  distinctive  names.  This  is  especially  true  of  varieties  for  com- 
mercial orchards,  and  emphasizes  the  importance  of  conservatism  in 
the  naming  and  introducing  of  varieties  at  the  present  juncture,  when 
thousands  of  planted  seedlings  in  orchards  throughout  the  South  are 
coming  into  bearing  each  year.  At  the  same  time  it  is  recognized 
that  whenever  a  seedling  is  found  to  possess  important  characteristics 
of  decided  superiority  it  should  be  immediately  propagated,  on  an 
experimental  scale  at  least,  to  insure  its  preservation  in  the  event  of 
destruction  of  the  original  tree. 

WOLFOED  PECAN. 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  is  a  wild  seedling  about  20  years 
old  standing  on  land  belonging  to  Mr.  H.  L.  Wolford,  in  Wilson 
Creek  bottom,  near  McKinney,  Tex.  It  was  called  to  the  attention 
of  Mr.  E.  W.  Kirkpatrick  about  1898  by  one  of  his  employees,  with 
the  result  that  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  began  propagating  it  in  a  small  way 
the  following  year.  He  named  it  in  honor  of  the  owner  of  the  tree, 
and  states  that  he  published  a  description  of  the  variety  about  1902.° 
The  original  tree  is  so  located  that  a  considerable  portion  of  each  crop 
is  taken  by  trespassers,  so  that  its  actual  yield  for  any  year  has  not 
been  ascertained.  It  is  reported  to  be  a  rather  slender  grower,  with 
tough  wood  and  narrow  leaves,  and  bearing  numerous  heavy  catkins. 
It  is  considered  one  of  the  most  productive  varieties  grown  in  that 
section,  bearing  many  clusters  containing  7  or  8  nuts  each.  In  1907 
Mr.  Kirkpatrick  harvested  20  pounds  of  nuts  from  one  branch  of  it, 
6  inches  in  diameter,  that  had  been  top-worked  on  a  tree  of  bearing 
age. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  medium  or  slightly  below,  averaging  75  to  90  nuts  per  pound ; 
form  oval  to  oblong  oval,  compressed,  with  a  rather  blunt,  slightly 

0  Letter  of  E.  W.  Kirkpatrick,  McKinney,  Tex.,  December  11,  1907. 


316  YEARBOOK    OF    THE   DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

curved,  quadrangular  apex;  color  rather  bright  yellowish  brown, 
with  few  and  narrow  velvety  black  markings;  shell  very  thin  and 
quite  brittle,  with  thin  and  soft  partitions,  cracking  easily;  kernel 
plump,  smooth,  and  full  to  the  tip,  with  rather  narrow  but  shallow 
grooves,  releasing  the  shell  easily ;  kernel  color  bright  golden  brown, 
texture  fine,  meaty,  and  solid;  flavor  rich,  nutty,  and  free  from 
astringence;  quality  very  good. 

Because  of  the  locality  of  its  origin  this  variety  is  worthy  of  test- 
ing throughout  the  more  western  pecan  districts,  both  for  family  use 
and  as  a  commercial  variety.  Its  productiveness  and  excellent  crack- 
ing quality  compensate  to  a  considerable  extent  for  its  lack  of  size. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXVI,  figure  1,  were  grown 
on  a  top-grafted  tree  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Kirkpatrick,  McKinney,  Tex. 

PRESIDENT  PECAN. 
(  SYNONYM  :  President  .Roosevelt. ) 

The  original  tree  of  the  President  was  grown  by  Griffing  Brothers, 
of  Macclenny,  Fla.,  about  1889,  from  a  nut  obtained  by  them  at 
Bagdad,  Fla.  The  tree  was  sold  by  them  in  1891  with  other  seed- 
lings to  a  customer  who  planted  it  in  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  where  it 
now  stands.  The  tree  is  reported  to  have  begun  bearing  six  years 
after  it  was  transplanted  to  Jacksonville,  and  has  borne  from  70 
to  120  pounds  of  nuts  per  year  in  recent  years  prior  to  1907,  when 
it  was  defoliated  by  a  hailstorm  in  May,  which  destroyed  the  crop. 
Its  propagation  was  begun  about  1902,  and  it  was  named  and  cata- 
logued for  sale  by  the  originators  in  1903  as  "  President  Roosevelt." 
In  1904  the  name  was  changed  to  "  President "  by  the  introducers. 

The  tree  is  described  as  a  symmetrical,  upright  grower,  but  less 
vigorous  than  Rome  and  Van  Deman. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong,  compressed,  with  a  rather  sharply  pointed  base,  and 
quadrangular  apex  with  prominent  point;  color  bright  yellowish 
brown,  with  a  few  narrow  and  broken  black  stripes  near  apex;  size 
large — 45  to  50  per  pound ;  shell  of  medium  thickness  for  so  large  a 
nut,  with  thin  and  soft  partitions,  cracking  easily ;  kernel  long,  rather 
deeply  and  narrowly  grooved,  but  plump  and  releasing  shell  easily; 
kernel  color  bright  and  attractive,  texture  rather  fine-grained  for  so 
large  a  nut;  flavor  pleasant,  free  from  astringence;  quality  very 
good. 

This  variety  is  considered  one  of  the  most  promising  large  sorts 
that  has  originated  in  Florida  and  is  considered  worthy  of  testing 
in  that  State  and  adjacent  pecan  districts. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXVI,  figure  2,  were 
grown  in  Jacksonville,  Fla. 


PROMISING   NEW    FRUITS.  317 

SOVEREIGN  PECAN. 
(  SYNONYM  :  Texas  Prolific. ) 

In  1895,  shortly  after  he  had  mastered  the  art  of  ring-budding  the 
pecan  and  thus  had  been  enabled  to  propagate  and  disseminate  the 
San  Saba  variety  from  the  original  tree  of  that  sort,  which  stands 
on  his  place,0  Mr.  E.  E.  Risien,  of  Rescue,  Tex.,  planted  San  Saba 
nuts  from  the  original  tree  for  the  purpose  of  growing  a  considera- 
ble orchard  of  seedlings  of  that  variety.  He  did  this  in  the  expecta- 
tion that  a  large  proportion  of  the  seedlings  would  come  true  to  the 
parent,  which  they  failed  to  do.  Certain  of  the  young  seedlings 
early  gave  evidence  of  distinctiveness,  through  their  leaf  and  wood 
characters,  so  that  as  early  as  1897  he  began  top-budding  from  them 
on  to  bearing  trees  in  order  to  determine  as  quickly  as  possible  their 
fruiting  quality  and  other  characteristics.  A  bud  from  one  of  these 
which  was  thus  top-worked  in  1897  on  an  old  bearing  tree  on  the 
San  Saba  River  bottom  bore  its  first  nuts  in  1898.  The  precocity 
thus  indicated  and  the  large  size,  bright  color,  plump  kernel,  and 
fine  quality  of  the  new  sort  caused  Mr.  Risien  to  name  it  "  Sover- 
eign v  early  in  1899,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  A.  A.  Wheeler,  of  San 
Francisco,  to  whom  some  of  the  first  crop  of  nuts  had  been  sent.  The 
exact  location  in  the  orchard  of  the  original  seedling  tree  not  having 
been  recorded,  Mr.  Risien  began  nursery  propagation  from  the  bear- 
ing top-worked  branch  and  disseminated  the  variety  in  the  form  of 
1  -year-old  ring-budded  trees  under  the  name  "  Sovereign  "  in  1900. 
A  brief  characterization  of  the  variety  by  the  writer,  based  on  speci- 
mens of  the  crops  of  1899  and  1900,  was  published  under  that  name 
in  the  Cyclopedia  of  American  Horticulture  in  1901.6  Meanwhile 
Mr.  Risien  listed  the  variety  as  "  Texas  Prolific  "  in  his  price  list  for 
1900-1901,  which  was  apparently  issued  in  the  fall  of  1900.  As  the 
latter  name  consists  of  more  than  one  word  and  is  otherwise  in  conflict 
with  the  Code  of  Nomenclature  of  the  American  Pomological  So- 
ciety, which  has  also  been  adopted  by  the  National  Nut  Growers' 
Association,  the  name  "  Sovereign  "  is  recognized  as  having  prece- 
dence and  is  adopted  in  this  publication.  The  top-budded  branch 
above  referred  to  continued  to  thrive  and  bear  good  crops  until  the 
season  of  1903,  when  a  June  freshet  in  the  San  Saba  River  flooded 
the  entire  bottom  well  into  the  tops  of  the  old  bearing  trees.  The 
force  of  the  flood  and  the  weight  of  the  driftwood  that  it  carried 
broke  the  entire  budded  branch  with  its  load  of  nuts  from  the  tree. 
Fortunately  the  branch  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Risien  after  the  flood 
subsided  and  before  the  leaves  upon  it  had  wilted.  He  immediately 
cut  all  available  bud  wood  from  it,  with  which  he  budded  about  200 

a  Yearbook  1904,  p.  413. 

6  Cyclopedia  of  American  Horticulture,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  1256,  1901. 


318  YEARBOOK    OF    THE   DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

young  seedlings  then  growing  in  his  nursery.  Of  these  about  75 
lived,  thus  preserving  a  good  stock  of  the  variety.  Close  watch  has 
been  kept  of  the  trees  in  the  seedling  orchard  in  the  hope  that  the 
original  tree  of  the  Sovereign  could  be  located  when  it  came  into 
bearing,  but  without  success.  In  the  autumn  of  1907  Mr.  Risien  re- 
luctantly concluded  that  it  must  have  been  one  of  several  that  had 
been  washed  out  bodily  in  some  of  the  freshets  which  are  experienced 
frequently  in  that  section.  The  importance  of  prompt  propagation 
of  valuable  seedlings  in  order  to  insure  their  perpetuation  in  the 
event  of  the  loss  of  the  original  tree  is  emphasized  by  this  experience. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  large,  averaging  50  to  55  nuts  per  pound;  form  oblong  to 
oblong  obovatej  compressed,  with  a  full  and  smooth  base  and  a  blunt 
and  usually  symmetrical  apex;  surface  quite  lumpy,  conforming  to 
the  undulations  of  the  kernel;  color  bright,  yellowish,  with  long, 
narrow,  striped  markings,  ranging  from  bright  red  to  reddish  brown 
in  color ;  shell  thin  to  medium  for  so  large  a  nut,  not  a  distinct  paper 
shell,  like  San  Saba,  Russell,  Young,  and  a  few  others,  but  brittle 
and  cracking  easily;  kernel  plump,  rather  narrowly  and  deeply 
grooved,  and  considerably  convoluted,  not  releasing  the  shell  as  easily 
as  some ;  kernel  color  bright  and  clear ;  texture  very  fine  grained  and 
firm;  flavor  sweet,  rich,  nutty,  quality  very  good.  The  specimens 
illustrated  on  Plate  XXXVI,  figure  3,  were  grown  by  Mr.  E.  E. 
Risien,  Rescue,  Tex. 

The  tree  is  a  moderately  strong  grower,  more  vigorous  than  its 
parent  San  Saba,  but  of  the  same  general  character.  The  variety  is 
considered  especially  worthy  of  testing  in  the  more  western  and  arid 
pecan  districts.  It  has  been  experimentally  planted  throughout  the 
South,  but  not  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time  to  determine  its  adapta- 
bility to  the  more  humid  eastern  sections. 

KINCAID  PECAN. 

This  variety  was  brought  to  light  by  Mr.  E.  E.  Risien,  then  of 
San  Saba,  Tex.,  through  the  offering  of  a  premium  for  the  best 
variety  of  pecans  brought  to  him  during  each  season.  The  tree 
proved  to  be  a  sprout  from  a  stump  on  land  in  Wallace  Creek  bottom 
in  San  Saba  County,  Tex.,  owned  by  the  late  James  Henderson  and 
occupied  at  the  time  by  a  Mr.  Kincaid,  who  rented  the  place.  The 
tree  is  reported  to  have  since  been  killed  by  fire  built  against  it  by 
campers. 

The  variety  was  first  propagated  about  1900  by  Mr.  Risien  and  was 
disseminated  by  him  under  that  name  in  the  same  year." 

The  tree  is  reported  by  Mr.  Risien  to  be  a  vigorous  though  rather 

0  Letters  of  E.  E.  Risien,  Rescue,  Tex.,  March,  1908. 


i;, 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  319 

slender  grower,  with  small  narrow  leaves  with  red  markings  on  their 
stems.  It  blooms  profusely,  but  rarely  sets  more  than  2  or  3  nuts  to 
the  cluster  and  is  therefore  considered  but  moderately  productive, 
though  a  regular  bearer  of  fair  crops.  It  is  reported  much  easier  to 
bud  than  either  San  Saba  or  Sovereign. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  large,  averaging  45  to  50  nuts  per  pound ;  form  broad  oblong, 
compressed,  with  flat  base  and  blunt  quadrangular  apex;  surface 
rather  smooth,  but  considerably  ridged,  especially  toward  apex; 
color  bright,  brownish,  with  a  few  scattered  brownish  splashes 
toward  apex;  shell  medium  in  thickness  with  rather  thick  but  soft 
partitions,  cracking  quite  easily;  kernel  broad,  flat,  plump,  smooth, 
releasing  the  kernel  easily,  darker  than  Sovereign  or  San  Saba,  but 
exceptionally  attractive  for  confectioner's  use  on  cakes  or  candies; 
texture  rather  coarser  than  the  above-named  varieties,  but  decidedly 
finer  than  the  average  commercial  pecan;  flavor  mild,  pleasant; 
quality  good.  The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXVI,  figure  4, 
were  grown  by  Mr.  E.  E.  Risien,  Rescue,  Tex. 

This  variety  is  especially  commended  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Kirkpatrick, 
who  has  given  much  attention  to  the  examination  of  Texas  pecans, 
and  is  considered  worthy  of  testing  in  the  pecan  districts  from  that 

State  westward. 

MANTURA  PECAN. 

So  few  of  the  pecan  varieties  yet  found  worthy  of  naming  have 
originated  north  of  the  cotton  belt  that  the  discovery  of  a  tree  bear- 
ing good  crops  of  nuts  of  fair  size  and  good  quality  regularly  as 
far  north  as  Virginia  appears  worthy  of  special  note.  Such  a  one 
the  Mantura  appears  to  be.  The  original  tree  of  this  variety  stands 
on  the  homestead  of  that  name  about  5  miles  from  the  James  River, 
in  Surry  County,  Va.a  The  tree  is  one  of  four  grown  from  nuts 
planted  by  Mrs.  Wilson,  mother  of  Mr.  W.  P.  Wilson,  Fergussons 
Wharf,  Va.,  the  present  owner,  about  1863.  The  nuts  planted  came 
from  a  tree  still  standing  at  Surry,  about  9  miles  distant.  The 
Mantura  tree  is  about  11  feet  in  circumference  and  80  to  90  feet 
high,  with  a  symmetrical  spread  of  top.  Up  to  1907  it  had  not 
missed  a  crop  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  the  crop  for  the  previous 
ten  years  having  averaged  100  pounds  and  for  several  years  150  to 
275  pounds.  Like  practically  all  pecans  in  the  Eastern  States  the 
crop  of  1907  was  very  light,  owing  probably  to  late  frosts  and  wet 
weather  in  spring.  The  variety  attracted  the  attention  of  Mr.  W.  N. 
Roper,  who  named  it  Mantura  in  1906  and  began  its  propagation. 
It  was  described  and  illustrated  by  Hume  under  that  name  in  1906.6 

0  Letter  of  W.  N.  Roper,  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  1,  1906. 
6  The  Pecan  and  Its  Culture,  1906,  p.  44. 


320  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF  AGRICULTURE. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  medium  to  large,  averaging  60  to  65  to  the  pound,  form  long, 
rather  slender,  with  pointed  base  and  rather  blunt  apex;  surface 
smooth,  color  rather  bright,  with  narrow  black  markings  at  apex; 
shell  thin,  partitions  thin  and  soft;  cracking  quality  excellent;  kernel 
long,  slender,  not  always  plump  to  the  tip,  but  smooth  and  attractive, 
with  narrow  but  shallow  grooves ;  kernel  color  bright  and  clean ;  tex- 
ture fine-grained,  firm,  oily;  flavor  sweet;  quality  very  good.  The 
specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XXXVI,  figure  5,  were  from  the 
original  tree. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS 


By 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations, 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[REPRINT  FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1908.] 


22SO— 09 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  :   1909 


130 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Development  of  fruit  districts 473 

Patten  apple 474 

Bennett  apple 475 

Williams  apple , 476 

Augbert  peach 477 

Champion  peach 478 

Eaton  raspberry 479 

Peters  mango 480 

Kawakami  persimmon 482 

Lonestar  persimmon 483 

Pecans 485 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

PLATE  XLI.  Patten  apple 476 

XLII.  Bennett  apple 476 

XLIII.  Williams  apple 476 

XLIV.  Augbert  peach : 478 

XLV.  Champion  peach 478 

XLVI.  Eaton  raspberry 480 

XLVII.  Peters  mango 480 

XLVIII.  Kawakami  and  Lonestar  persimmons 484 

XLIX.  Taylor,  Kennedy,  Hodge.  Bolton,  and  Carman  pecans 484 


131 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  FRUIT  DISTRICTS. 

The  rapidity  with  which  the  production,  testing,  and  commercial 
dissemination  of  new  varieties  of  fruits  is  proceeding  in  a  region 
may  fairly  be  taken  as  an  index  to  the  condition  of  fruit  growing 
therein.  During  the  pioneer  period  the  fruits  planted  are  usually 
those  brought  by  the  settlers  from  their  former  homes  or  obtained  from 
older  settled  regions  of  climatic  conditions  similar  to  those  existing 
in  the  new  region  in  so  far  as  they  are  understood.  Later  there  fol- 
lows a  period  of  great  activity  in  seedling  production,  during  which 
large  numbers  of  varieties  of  local  reputation  are  enthusiastically 
disseminated  before  undergoing  a  test  sufficiently  extended  and  varied 
to  render  possible  even  an  approximate  estimate  of  their  relative 
values  for  given  conditions  or  particular  uses. 

Gradually  the  strong  and  weak  points  of  such  varieties  are  as- 
certained, and  the  lists  for  planting  in  particular  regions  and  local- 
ities, especially  in  commercial  orchards  and  vineyards,  are  narrowed 
down  to  comparatively  few  sorts.  In  America,  during  the  past  three 
or  four  decades,  the  general  tendency  has  been  to  reduce  the  number 
of  sorts  planted  to  even  a  much  smaller  number  than  in  corresponding 
portions  of  the  European  continent.  This  has  been  largely  due  to 
the  influence  of  the  commercial  demand  for  solid  carloads  or  even 
trainloads  of  fruit  of  single  varieties  at  one  time  to  meet  a  market 
demand  in  a  more  or  less  remote  section  of  the  country  or  even  across 
the  sea. 

There  is  evidence  of  a  reawakening  of  interest,  however,  in  the 
growing  of  a  wider  range  of  varieties  of  some  of  our  more  important 
fruits,  such  as  the  apple,  for  purely  commercial  ends.  There  is  also 
indication  of  a  growing  discrimination  in  many  markets  between 
general-purpose  varieties  of  ordinary  or  indifferent  quality  and  some 
of  the  choice  sorts  which  are  particularly  adapted  to  special  uses 
and  therefore  worthy  of  higher  prices. 

Xew  climatic  districts  are  still  being  developed  through  the  exten- 
sion of  suitable  transportation  facilities,  as  well  as  by  the  develop- 
ment of  water  for  the  irrigation  of  soils  rich  in  fertility  but  hitherto 
lacking  in  moisture.  The  mastery  of  previously  destructive  insects 

473 


132- 

474  YEAKBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

and  fungi,  through  the  methods  of  control  that  have  gradually  been 
developed  by  entomologists  and  pathologists,  now  renders  possible 
the  growing  of  some  choice  sorts  in  districts  where  they  formerly 
could  not  be  depended  upon  to  succeed. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  article,  in  continuation  of  those  on  the 
same  subject  in  the  Yearbook  since  1901,  to  suggest  to  fruit  growers 
in  various  sections  of  the  country  certain  little  known  or  recently 
introduced  fruits  that  are  worthy  of  their  attention  either  for  the 
home  fruit  garden  or  the  commercial  plantation. 

PATTEIST    APPLE. 

SYNONYMS:  Duchess  No.  3;  Patten's  Duchess  2VTo.  3;  Patten's  Greening. 

IFLATE    XLI.] 

The  early  settlers  of  the  fertile  regions  of  the  upper  Mississippi 
Valley  took  with  them  trees  of  many  of  the  standard  varieties  of 
fruits  of  the  longer  settled  country  farther  east,  but  soon  found  that 
they  would-  not  endure  the  fluctuating  and  severe  winter  weather  in 
combination  with  the  hotter  and  drier  summers  of  the  region.  En- 
couraged by  the  relative  hardiness  and  productiveness  of  the  Olden- 
burg, Alexander,  Tetofski,  and  Ked  Astrachan  apples,  which,  though 
of  Russian  origin,  had  been  introduced  from  England  by  the  Massa- 
chusetts Horticultural  Society  about  1835,a  efforts  were  put  forth 
to  secure  hardier  varieties  from  the  colder  regions  of  Europe,  par- 
ticularly from  Russia,  a  work  in  which  the  late  A.  G.  Tuttle,  of 
Baraboo,  Wis.,  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  the 
Iowa  Agricultural  College,  and  a  number  of  nurserymen  and  fruit 
growers  in  various  States  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada  participated, 
from  1866  to  a  comparatively  recent  date. 

Of  the  hundreds  of  varieties  thus  introduced  and  tested,  most  have 
proved  of  little  value  under  the  new  conditions,  lacking  either  in 
flavor,  keeping  quality,  or  other  important  characteristics  of  fruit,  or 
in  blight  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  tree.  A  few  valuable  sorts 
have  been  thus  obtained,  however,  which  are  doubtless  proving  a 
sufficient  recompense  for  the  expenditure  of  labor,  time,  and  money 
occasioned  by  this  introduction  work. 

Meanwhile,  from  these  and  the  earlier  introductions,  there  have 
been  appearing  in  recent  years  a  considerable  number  of  American 
seedlings,  from  which  will  doubtless  eventually  come  the  varieties 
adapted  to  .the  peculiar  conditions  of  the  region.  Some  of  these  are 
distinct  improvements  on  the  parent  varieties  in  vigor  of  growth, 
time-  of  ripening,  resistance  to  blight,  and  other  important  character- 
istics, and  while  none  of  those  of  proved  "  ironclad  "  hardiness  yet 

a  Joliu  Craig,  in  Cyclopedia  of  American  Horticulture,  p.  1404. 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  475 

developed  has  revealed  high  dessert  quality,  some  of  them  show  dis- 
tinct improvement  in  this  particular. 

Among  the  most  promising  hardy  sorts  thus  developed  is  the 
Patten,  which  was  grown  from  seed  of  Oldenburg  planted  by  Mr.  C. 
G.  Patten,  at  Charles  City.  Iowa,  in  1869.  Mr.  Patten  named  the 
variety  Patten's  Greening,  and  introduced  it  in  1885,  since  which  time 
it  has  been  widely  disseminated  through  the  States  of  the  upper 
Mississippi  Valley  and  throughout  the  adjacent  portions  of  the 
Dominion  of  Canada.  Its  vigorous  and  sturdy  tree,  coupled  with 
regular  and  sufficient  productiveness  in  climates  too  severe  for  most 
varieties,  and  its  longer  keeping  quality  than  most  of  the  hardy 
sorts,  render  it  increasingly  popular  in  those  regions. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish  oblate,  slightly  ribbed;  size  large;  cavity  regular, 
of  medium  size  and  depth,  with  gradual  slope,  russeted;  stem  of 
medium  length,  stout,  downy;  basin  regular,  of  medium  size  and 
depth  and  gradual  slope,  sometimes  slightly  russeted  and  leather 
cracked ;  calyx  segments  rather  broad,  converging ;  eye  large,  closed ; 
surface  smooth;  color  greenish  yellow,  with  a  dull  bronze  blush  on 
the  sunny  side,  occasional  high-colored  specimens  attaining  a  brilliant 
crimson  blush :  dots  scattered,  russet  or  gray,  with  subcutaneous  green 
bases;  bloom  whitish;  skin  rather  thick,  tenacious^  core  roundish 
oval,  of  medium  size,  nearly  closed,  clasping;  seeds  plump,  medium 
in  size,  brown,  few ;  flesh  yellowish,  moderately  fine  grained,  breaking, 
juicy:  flavor  subacid  to  rather  acid;  quality  good,  especially  for  culi- 
nary use.  Season  October  to  January  in  the  upper  Mississippi  Val- 
ley. The  variety  is  recommended  for  that  region  and  for  those 
portions  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  States  which  experience  winter 
temperatures  too  low  for  the  standard  varieties. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLI  were  grown  at  the  Central 
Experimental  Farm  at  Ottawa,  Canada,  and  were  furnished  through 
the  courtesy  of  Prof.  W.  T.  Macoun,  horticulturist. 

BENNETT   APPLE. 
SYNONYM  :  Bennett  Seedling. 

[PLATE  XLI  I.] 

This  promising  new  member  of  the  well-known  Winesap  group  of 
apples  originated  as  a  seedling  in  an  old  fence  row  on  the  premises  of 
Mr.  S.  L.  Bennett,  Medford,  Oreg.,  about  1883.  Mr.  Bennett  cut 
scions  from  the  seedling  about  1893,  which  he  top-grafted  into  bearing 
trees  on  his  place.  Fruit  of  it  was  exhibited  at  the  Charleston 
Exposition  in  1902,  where  it  was  awarded  a  gold  medal,  and  at  the 
St.  Louis  Exposition  in  1904,  where  it  received  a  silver  medal  award. 


476  YEARBOOK   OF   THE  DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

It  was  first  commercially  propagated  about  1903  by  J.  S.  Barnett, 
Central  Point,  Oreg.,  and  was  commercially  introduced  by  him.  It 
has  been  considerably  planted  in  the  Rogue  River  Valley  of  Oregon 
during  the  past  five  years,  but  so  far  as  known  has  not  yet  been  fruited 
outside  of  that  section. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  conical,  often  unequal;  size  large  to  very  large; 
cavity  regular,  large,  deep,  russeted;  stem  short  to  medium;  basin 
regular,  of  medium  size,  furrowed  and  downy ;  calyx  segments  long, 
narrow,  converging,  slightly  reflexed  at  tips;  eye  medium,  closed; 
surface  smooth,  gently  undulating;  color  deep  yellow,  washed  with 
mixed  red  and  brokenly  striped  with  crimson;  dots  small,  yellow, 
many  indented;  skin  medium  thick,  tenacious;  core  of  medium  size, 
broad,  conical,  clasping,  closed;  seeds  small,  plump,  brown,  numerous; 
flesh  yellow,  moderately  fine  grained,  breaking,  juicy;  flavor  rich 
subacid;  quality  good  to  very  good.  Season  November  to  June  in 
Grant  County,  Oreg. 

The  tree  is  described  as  similar  to  Winesap  in  color  and  appearance 
of  wood  and  foliage,  except  that  the  leaves  are  larger.  It  is  reported 
to  be  an  early  and  heavy  bearer. 

The  variety  is  suggested  for  testing  in  sections  where  the  Winesap 
succeeds,  especially  along  the  northern  boundary  of  the  Winesap  belt. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLII  were  grown  by  the  origi- 
nator, Mr.  S.  L.  Bennett,  at  Medford,  Grant  County,  Oreg. 

WILLIAMS    APPLE. 

SYNONYMS:  Early  Williams,  Ladies,   Queen,   Williams  Early,    Williams  Early 
Red,  Williams  Favorite,  Williams  Favorite  Red. 

[PLATE  XLIII.] 

Though  discovered  as  a  "wilding"  on  the  farm  of  Capt.  Benjamin 
Williams,  "  in  that  part  of  Roxbury  formerly  called  Canterbury,"0 
more  than  a  century  and  a  half  ago,  the  full  merit  of  this  choice  sum- 
mer apple  does  not  appear  to  have  been  recognized  until  recently. 
The  exact  time  of  its  discovery  does  not  appear  to  have  been  recorded, 
but  by  1830  it  was  reported  by  Samuel  Downer  to  have  been  "  well 
known  in  the  [Boston]  market  for  some  years  past,  under  the  name 
Queen,  Ladies,  etc."  The  original  tree  had  been  blown  down  some 
years  previous  to  that  time.  Fruit  of  the  variety  was  exhibited  by 
Mr.  Downer  before  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society  on  July 
24,  1830,  with  the  result  that  the  committee  which  passed  upon  it 
recommended  that  it  be  called  the  "Williams"  apple,  under  which 
name  it  was  published  in  the  New  England  Farmer  on  the  following 

0  C.  M.  Hovey,  Mag.  of  Hort.,  1848,  p.  118, 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,   1908. 


PLATE  XLI 


PATTEN  APPLE. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,   1908 


PLATE  XLII. 


BENNETT  APPLE. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.  1908. 


PLATE  XLIil. 


WILLIAMS    APPLE. 


11 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  477 

Saturday.0  It  subsequently  acquired  numerous  synonyms,  but  has 
been  more  widely  grown  as  Williams  Favorite  and  Williams  Early 
Red  than  under  the  original  and  preferred  name,  which  we  follow. 

As  a  commercial  sort  its  planting  has  chiefly  been  restricted  to  the 
vicinity  of  Boston  and  New  York  until  within  the  past  few  years, 
when  it  has  gradually  worked  its  way  southward  through  New  Jersey 
and  Delaware,  and  still  more  recently  has  disclosed  its  special  merit 
as  a  summer  apple  for  both  home  use  and  market  in  portions  of  North 
Carolina  and  South  Carolina,  where  few  northern  varieties  succeed. 

Its  firm  flesh  and  relatively  tough  skin  render  it  one  of  the  best 
early  varieties  for  long  carriage,  and  such  tests  of  transatlantic  ship- 
ment as  have  been  made  indicate  that  high  prices  can  be  had  for  it 
in  July  and  August  in  the  markets  of  the  United  Kingdom. 

One  reason  for  including  the  variety  in  this  series  is  the  fact  that 
some  other  very  much  inferior  varieties  (notably  Sops  of  Wine) 
have  recently  been  mistakenly  disseminated  for  it  and  that  the  fre- 
quency of  its  submittal  to  the  Department  for  identification  from 
the  Middle  and  South  Atlantic  States  indicates  that  it  is  not  well 
known  there. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong  oval  to  oblong,  sometimes  rather  angular ;  size  medium 
to  large;  cavity  small,  shallow,  often  heavily  lipped;  stem  medium  to 
long,  often  thick  and  knobbed  and  usually  inserted  at  an  angle ;  basin 
small,  usually  shallow,  slightly  furrowed;  calyx  segments  broad, 
converging;  eye  small,  tightly  closed;  surface  smooth,  sometimes 
marked  with  russet  knobs;  color  whitish  yellow,  heavily  washed 
and  striped  with  two  shades  of  red;  dots  numerous,  russet,  partly 
indented,  some  aureole;  flesh  yellowish  white,  deeply  stained  with 
red  at  core  line;  breaking,  tender,  moderately  juicy;  core  oval,  of 
medium  size,  slightly  open ;  seeds  long,  dark  brown,  numerous ;  flavor 
mild  subacid;  quality  good,  sometimes  very  good.  Season  late  July 
and  early  August  in  Delaware. 

The  tree  is  a  rather  slow  grower  and  does  better  if  top-worked  on  a 
vigorous  stock.  Some  of  the  finest  specimens  of  this  variety  seen  in 
recent  years  have  been  grown  in  Delaware,  Virginia,  North  Carolina, 
and  South  Carolina,  and  its  planting  in  an  experimental  way  in  those 
States  is  suggested. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLIII  were  grown  by  A.  N. 
Brown,  Wyoming,  Kent  County,  Del. 

AUGBERT    PEACH. 
[PLATE   XLIV.] 

The  Augbert  peach  is  stated  by  the  originator,  Mr.  Joel  Boon,  of 
Lindale,  Smith  County,  Tex.,  to  have  been  grown  about  1897  from 

0  New  England  Farmer,  Saturday,  July  30,  1830,  p.  14. 


478  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

seed  of  Elberta.  The  mother  tree  stood  near  a  tree  of  Salway,  which 
variety  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  other  parent.  The  original  tree, 
which  is  still  living,  began  bearing  at  the  age  of  3  years  and  has 
produced  seven  successive  crops,  yielding  20  crates  of  peaches  in 
1904.  Its  relatively  late  season  of  ripening,  coupled  with  the  pro- 
ductiveness of  the  tree  and  the  beauty  and  fine  quality  of  the  fruit, 
soon  led  to  its  propagation  for  planting  in  orchards,  and  in  1905  to  its 
extensive  propagation  for  commercial  dissemination  and  introduc- 
tion by  C.  W.  Wood,  Swan,  Tex.,  and  John  F.  Sneed,  Tyler,  Tex. 
The  arbitrary  word  "Augbert "  was  registered  as  a  trade-mark  for  it 
in  the  United  States  Patent  Office,  June  26,  1906,  by  Milton  E. 
Fowler,  of  Lindale,  Tex.,  and  its  formal  introduction  appears  to 
date  from  that  year. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong  oval;  size  large;  cavity  regular,  large,  deep,  abrupt, 
marked  with  red;  stem  stout;  suture  deep,  extending  beyond  apex; 
apex  conspicuous,  protruding  one-fourth  to  three-eighths  inch 
above  the  general  outline;  surface  smooth;  color  yellow,  blushed, 
mottled  and  striped  with  crimson;  dots  minute;  down  short,  loose, 
velvety ;  skin  moderately  thick,  tenacious ;  stone  long,  ovate,  pointed, 
medium  to  large,  red,  free ;  flesh  thick,  yellow,  stained  with  deep  red 
at  the  stone,  tender,  melting,  juicy;  flavor  subacid,  vinous;  good  to 
very  good;  tree  vigorous,  productive;  leaves  lanceolate,  of  medium 
size,  with  short  petioles;  glands  reniform;  flowers  small.  Season 
August  1  to  20  in  Smith  County,  Tex.,  two  to  four  weeks  after 
Elberta. 

The  Augbert,  combining,  as  it  apparently  does,  the  productiveness, 
beauty,  and  carrying  quality  of  the  Elberta  with  the  later  ripening 
season  and  better  dessert  quality  of  Salway,  is  considered  especially 
promising  for  Texas  and  other  southern  peach  districts  where  a  good 
commercial  peach  ripening  later  than  Elberta  is  desired. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLIY  were  grown  by  Milton  E. 
Fowler,  Lindale,  Smith  County,  Tex. 

CHAMPION    PEACH. 
[PLATE  XLV.] 

Among  the  hardy  peaches  introduced  during  the  past  twenty  years, 
perhaps  none  has  more  steadily  advanced  in  the  estimation  of  grow- 
ers in  the  peach  districts  of  the  Middle  Western  States  than  the 
Champion.  This  variety  was  originated  from  seed  of  Oldmixon 
Free  (supposedly  crossed  with  Early  York)  by  Mr.  I.  G.  Hubbard, 
Xokomis,  111.,  now  of  San  Marcos,  Tex.,  in  1880.a  It  was  first  bud- 

a  Letters  of  I.  G.  Hubbard,  August  18,  1890,  March  20,  1909. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1908.' 


PLATE  XLIV. 


AUGBERT    PEACH. 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,    1908 


PLATE   XLV. 


%fr 


CHAMPION    PEACH. 


.u  4 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  479 

ded  for  his  own  planting  about  1882,  and  was  introduced  by  him  and 
the  Dayton  Star  Nurseries  in  1890.  An  illustration  and  description 
of  it  were  published  in  the  Horticultural  Art  Journal  in  December, 
1889.°  While  rather  subject  to  fungous  injury  of  the  fruit  in  wet 
seasons,  its  blossom  buds  under  ordinary  conditions  endure  such  low 
temperatures  without  injury  that  it  has  become  recognized  as  possess- 
ing special  merit  for  portions  of  Illinois,  Indiana,  Kansas,  Nebraska, 
Iowa.  Missouri,  and  other  sections,  where  somewhat  similar  winter 
conditions  prevail.  On  the  grounds  of  the  originator  in  Illinois  it 
has  borne  a  fair  crop  of  fruit  after  experiencing  a  winter  temperature 
of  18°  F.  below  zero. 

In  the  early  years  of  its  dissemination  it  was  somewhat  confused 
with  an  early,  semicling,  serrate-glanded  variety  originated  by 
Eugene  Gibson,  of  New  Richmond,  Mich.,  which  was  locally  intro- 
duced by  him  in  western  Michigan  and  northern  Ohio  under  the 
name  "Champion,"  about  1887  or  1888.  That  variety  was  sub- 
ject to  mildew  of  the  foliage  and  its  fruit  was  of  little  value,  but, 
having  been  rather  largely  propagated  and  disseminated  (though 
without  publication),  it  caused  much  disappointment  among  growers 
who  fruited  it,  thus  operating  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  Illinois 
variety  when  it  was  introduced. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  round  to  roundish  oblong;  size  medium  to  large;  cavity 
large,  deep,  flaring;  stem  short;  suture  distinct  from  base  to  apex: 
apex  small  but  rather  prominent,  extending  beyond  the  outline  of 
the  fruit;  surface  smooth;  color  creamy  white,  washed  and  striped 
with  red  where  exposed  to  the  sun,  and  dulled  by  abundant,  short, 
persistent  down ;  skin  thick ;  stone  short,  broad,  oval,  pale,  of  medium 
size,  very  free;  flesh  white,  slightly  stained  with  pink  at  the  stone, 
thick,  firm,  melting,  juicy,  vinous;  quality  good  to  very  good  when 
well  grown  and  thoroughly  tree-ripened.  Season  medium,  second 
half  of  August,  in  Montgomery  County,  111. 

Tree  vigorous,  with  rather  light-colored  bark;  leaves  of  medium 
size,  with  serrulate  margins  and  petioles  of  medium  length,  bearing 
small,  reniform  glands;  blossoms  small. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  XLV  were  grown  by  Mr.  John 
Dice,  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa. 

EATON    RASPBERRY. 

[PLATE  XLVI.] 

The  original  bush  of  this  very  promising  new  raspberry  appears 
to  have  been  found  by  Mr.  Ulysses  Eaton  at  Cambridge  City,  Ind.. 
as  a  chance  seedling  in  his  berry  field  in  1885.  He  propagated  this 

0  Horticultural  Art  Journal,  December,  1889,  p.  92. 
2280—09 2 


II 

480  YEARBOOK    OF    THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

and  planted  it  for  his  local  market.  In  1898  accounts  of  the  large 
size  and  fine  quality  of  its  fruit  reached  Mr.  Amos  Garretson,  who 
visited  the  discoverer  and,  being  impressed  with  the  value  of  the 
variety,  secured  some  plants  of  it  from  Mr.  Eaton  for  testing  at 
his  home  at  Pendleton,  Ind.  These  succeeded  so  well  that  in  1900 
he  purchased  from  Mr.  Eaton  the  right  to  introduce  the  variety. 
Not  being  a  nurse^man,  he  later  arranged  with  Flansburgh  &  Pier- 
son  (later  Flansburgh  &  Potter),  of  Leslie,  Mich.,  to  commercially 
introduce  it,  which  they  did  in  1902.° 

Fruit  of  it  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  Garretson  at  the  Pan-American 
Exposition  at  Buffalo  in  1901,  where  it  was  awarded  a  bronze  medal, 
and  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  1904, 
where  Mr.  Garretson  made  six  successive  shipments  a  week  apart, 
two  in  June  and  four  in  July,  to  demonstrate  its  long  ripening  sea- 
son. He  states  that  he  has  had  ripe  berries  of  it  as  early  as  June  20 
and  fruit  from  the  same  hills  August  10,  indicating  a  length  of 
season  very  desirable  in  a  variety  for  home  use  and  for  some  markets. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Roundish  to  roundish  conical;  large  to  very  large,  with  a  rather 
irregular  undulating  surface;  drupelets  broadly  grooved  and  glossy; 
color  clear,  bright,  durable  crimson;  pedicel  slender,  studded  with 
prickles,  receptacle  of  medium  size,  rather  smooth,  releasing  the  berry 
easily;  calyx  of  medium  size,  pale;  flesh  red,  translucent,  tender, 
moderately  solid,  quite  firm,  but  juicy;  seeds  relatively  small;  flavor 
mild  subacid,  with  an  agreeable  aroma;  quality  good  to  very  good 
for  both  dessert  and  culinary  use.  Season  July  1  to  August  10,  in 
Madison  County,  Ind.,  lasting  for  several  weeks. 

The  bush  is  described  as  of  moderate  vigor,  with  a  distinct  tend- 
ency to  branch,  but  making  fewer  suckers  than  most  other  red 
varieties. 

The  hardiness  and  other  desirable  characteristics  of  this  variety, 
as  proved  in  Indiana  and  Michigan,  render  it  promising  for  other 
northern  districts. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLVI  were  grown  by  Flans- 
burgh &  Potter,  Leslie,  Mich. 

PETERS  MANGO. 

SYNONYM  :  Peters  No.  1. 

[PLATE  XLVIL] 

In  addition  to  Mulgoba  6  and  Sandersha c  mangos  previously  de- 
scribed in  this  series,  another  East  Indian  variety,  the  Peters,  has 

a  Letter  of  Amos  Garretson,  January  18,  1909. 

6  For  description  and  illustration  of  Mulgoba  see  Yearbook  1901,  p.  389, 
Plate  LI. 

c  For  Sandersha  see  Yearbook  1907,  p.  314,  Plate  XXXV. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1908. 


PLATE  XLVI. 


EATON   RASPBERRY. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1908. 


PLATE  XLVII. 


PETERS  MANGO. 


139 

PROMISING    NK\V    FRUITS.  481 

shown  sufficient  merit  during  the  past  two  years  to  warrant  a  more 
general  testing. 

This  variety  was  obtained  in  1899  by  Messrs.  Lathrop  and  Fair- 
child,  at  the  Botanic  Garden  of  Trinidad,  British  West  Indies,  in  the 
form  of  five  potted  plants.  These  plants  were  distributed  in  1900, 
under  Seed  and  Plant  Introduction  No.  3706,  with  the  following 
note :  ° 

Five  potted  plants  of  the  Peters  No.  1  mango,  reputed  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Hart  to 
be  the  finest  flavored  of  all  the  mangoes ;  green  skinned,  rosy  purple  blush,  and 
mottled  with  small  yellow  dots.  Skin  thick,  flesh  pulpy,  juicy,  high-flavored. 
Ripens  best  in  dry  climate  of  Jamaica ;  good  and  regular  cropper ;  tree  medium 
size,  healthy  grower ;  weight  of  fruit,  12  to  16  ounces ;  size,  3 J  by  3£  inches. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Hart,  late  superintendent  of  the  botanical  department  of 
Trinidad,  who  has  had  the  variety  under  observation  in  the  West 
Indies  for  thirty-three  years,  states  b  that  it  was  introduced  to  both 
Jamaica  and  Trinidad  about  1868  or  1869.  Upon  his  arrival  in 
Jamaica  in  1875  he  found  it  growing  under  the  name  "  Bombay,"  but 
on  arriving  in  Trinidad  in  1887  he  found  trees  of  it  growing  there 
under  the  name  "  Peters."  c  Trees  standing  side  by  side  with  the 
"Peters"  bore  the  names  "Peach"  and  "Malda,"  respectively,  and 
closely  resembled  it  in  character  of  fruit,  the  "Peach"  being  dis- 
tinguished from  the  others  by  being  more  highly  colored  on  the  sunny 
side.  He  considers  the  three  sorts  closely  related,  possibly  seedlings 
from  a  common  parent.  From  1865  to  1887  these  trees  were  propa- 
gated from  by  the  dozens,  but  the  demand  is  now  so  large  that  they 
are  being  grafted  by  thousands,  both  by  the  Government  establish- 
ment and  by  private  growers. 

Mr.  Hart  states  that,  like  other  mangos,  the  Peters  does  well  in 
the  dry  districts  in  the  West  Indies,  but  in  damp,  tropical  locations 
the  fruit  is  often  subject  to  an  unidentified  disease  which  causes  a 
darkening  and  souring  of  the  flesh  next  to  the  seed  just  previous  to 
ripening. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oblong,  heavily  shouldered  at  base  and  plump  at 
apex ;  size  medium ;  stem  rather  stout,  inserted  in  a  small,  shallow 
cavity;  apex  swollen,  with  a  broad,  strong  beak  an  inch  or  more 
from  the  extremity  of  the  fruit;  surface  moderately  smooth,  color 
greenish  yellow,  blushed,  striped,  and  splashed  with  light  and  dark 
red;  dots  numerous,  yellow;  bloom  bluish  white;  skin  moderately 
thick,  tenacious ;  seed  small,  oblong,  thin,  adhering  tenaciously ;  flesh 

0  Section  of  Seed  and  Plant  Introduction  Inventory  No.  8,  Jan.  1,  1901,  p.  35. 

6  Letters  of  January  23  and  April  5,  1909. 

c  Though  suspiciously  similar  in  name  this  is  apparently  not  the  "  Peter  "  of 
the  Calcutta  Botanic  Garden  as  described  by  Firminger  in  Manual  of  Gardening 
for  Bengal  and  Upper  India,  London,  1864,  p.  198. 


140 

482  YEARBOOK   OF   THE  DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

thick,  yellow,  meaty,  tender,  and  juicy,  with  but  little  fiber;  flavor 
sweet,  aromatic,  rich;  quality  good  to  very  good.  Season  July  15  to 
August  1  in  Manatee  County,  Fla. 

The  tree  is  described  as  of  broad,  spreading  habit. 

While  the  variety  has  not  yet  been  tested  in  Florida  for  a  sufficient 
time  to  determine  its  relative  adaptability  to  the  mango-growing 
localities  in  that  State,  it  is  considered  worthy  of  testing  both  for 
home  use  and  market  where  other  sorts  or  seedlings  succeed. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  XLVII  was  grown  by  Mr.  J.  T. 
Pettigrew,  Manatee,  Fla. 

KAWAKAMI   PERSIMMON. 
[PLATE  XLVII  I.] 

The  larger  size  and  brighter  color  of  the  Japanese  persimmons 
have  to  some  extent  attracted  the  attention  of  southern  fruit  growers 
away  from  the  hardier  though  less  conspicuous  native  species.  In 
recent  years,  however,  a  number  of  promising  varieties  of  the  more 
widely  distributed  of  our  native  species,  Diospyros  virginiana,  have 
been  named  and  introduced.  There  has  at  the  same  time  been  a 
general  recognition  of  the  desirability  of  growing  hybrids  of  these 
species  in  the  hope  of  securing  varieties  hardier  than  the  Japanese 
and  yielding  larger  and  possibly  less  astringent  fruits  than  the  native 
parent.  One  such  appears  to  have  resulted  from  an  accidental  cross 
of  the  Yemon  (synonym  Among}  on  Josephine,  on  the  grounds  of 
Prof.  T.  V.  Munson,  of  Denison,  Tex.,  about  1893.a  Professor  Mun- 
son  grew  a  large  number  of  seedlings  of  Josephine  from  seeds  of  a 
tree  of  that  variety  near  which  stood  several  trees  of  Yemon.  From 
among  these  he  selected  a  number  that  showed  thicker  and  more 
pubescent  twigs  and  larger  leaves  than  their  seed  parent,  resembling 
in  these  respects  the  Japanese  species.  Some  of  these  showed  much 
more  strongly  marked  Japanese  characteristics  in  tree  and  fruit  than 
does  this  one,  which  he  named  Kawakami  in  1902,  but  he  preferred 
it  to  them  because  of  its  superior  hardiness  and  vigor  of  growth  as 
well  as  its  marked  retention  of  the  distinctive  flavor  of  the  Josephine, 
which  is  considered  superior  to  that  of  most  of  the  Japanese  varieties 
known  in  this  country. 

Professor  Munson  propagated  the  variety  for  dissemination  about 
1903,  1904.  Its  behavior  thus  far  warrants  the  belief  that  it  is  con- 
siderably hardier  than  any  of  the  Japanese  varieties  yet  tested  in  this 
country  and  likely  to  succeed  through  a  wide  geographic  range. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oblate,  sometimes  quadrangular;  size  medium  to 
large ;  cavity  regular,  of  medium  size  and  depth,  with  gradual  slope, 

a  Letters  of  T.  V.  Munson,  October  12,  1908,  and  April  2,  1909. 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS. 

covered  with  bloom;  calyx  small,  segments  reflexed;  stem  short, 
stout;  apical  point,  short,  stout;  surface  moderately  smooth;  color 
brownish  yellow,  covered  with  a  bluish  white  bloom ;  skin  thin,  ten- 
der; seeds  plump,  broad,  of  medium  size  and  number;  flesh  yellow - 
i>h.  translucent,  with  yellow  veins,  crisp,  meaty,  tender,  moderately 
juicy;  flavor  sweet  and  rich,  with  but  slight  astringency;  quality 
good  to  very  good.  Season  medium  to  late,  September  15  to  Novem- 
ber 1,  in  northern  Texas.  Tree  more  spreading  and  stocky7  than 
Josephine  but  less  productive.  It  has  thus  far  endured  the  winters 
as  far  north  as  Farmingdale,  111.,  and  is  considered  worthy  of  testing 
throughout  the  native  persimmon  belt. 

The  specimen  illustrated  on  Plate  XLYIII  was  grown  by  T.  V. 
Munson  &  Son,  Denison,  Tex. 

LOXESTAR    PERSIMMON. 
[PLATE  XLVIII.] 

The  Japanese  persimmon  (Diospyros  kaki) ,  which  was  recorded  in 
America  by  Prince0  as  early  as  1828,  though  reintroduced  by  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  in  1863,  apparently  did  not  attain  a  per- 
manent foothold  in  the  United  States  until  about  1875,  when  it  was 
introduced  in  the  form  of  grafted  trees  both  by  the  Department  and 
by  private  parties^.  Numerous  plantings  have  been  made  from  time 
to  time  by  growers  in  California  and  the  Gulf  States,  with  varying 
success  both  as  to  endurance  and  productiveness  of  trees  and  desir- 
ability and  marketability  of  fruit.  The  early  vernation  and  blossom- 
ing habit  of  this  species,  which  starts  into  growth  under  the  influ- 
ence of  short  periods  of  warmth  in  winter  and  early  spring,  render 
it  much  more  susceptible  to  injury  by  late  spring  frosts  in  the  South 
than  the  widely  distributed  native  persimmon  (Diospyros  virginiand). 
This  sensitiveness  to  warmth  in  winter  apparently  constitutes  the 
most  important  limiting  factor*  of  its  cultural  range. 

Several  of  the  well-known  imported  varieties  are  abundantly  pro- 
ductive and  yield  fruit  of  such  conspicuous  size  and  brilliant  color 
as  to  render  them  very  attractive  in  the  market.  Most  of  these, 
however,  retain  their  characteristic  astringent  flavor  until  the  fruit- 
is  fully  ripe,  and,  in  fact,  so  soft  as  to  be  incapable  of  transportation 
or  handling  in  commerce.  This  makes  necessary  the  harvesting  and 
shipment  of  the  fruit  while  still  hard,  so  that  it  reaches  the  market 
in  an  inedible  condition,  though  attractive  and  tempting  in  appear- 
ance. The  result  is  that  notwithstanding  the  warnings  to  the  pur- 
chaser against  eating  the  fruit  before  it  is  soft,  which  are  given  by 
the  growers  and  dealers,  and  which  in  some  cases  have  even  been 

°A  Short  Treatise  on  Horticulture,  by  William  Prince,  New  York,  1828,  p.  37. 


484  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

printed  upon  the  paper  used  in  wrapping  the  fruits  for  shipment,  a 
considerable  proportion  of  consumers  have  been  so  disappointed  in 
the  quality  of  the  fruit  that  they  have  tasted  prematurely  that  the 
demand  for  Japanese  persimmons  in  our  markets  has  increased  but 
slowly  in  recent  years. 

The  Japanese  appear  to  have  overcome  the  difficulty  to  a  large  ex- 
tent by  subjecting  the  fruits  to  the  fumes  of  saki  in  closed  vessels  for 
a  time  after  they  are  picked.  This  has  the  effect  of  removing  the 
astringence  in  advance  of  the  softening  of  the  fruit,  and  under  the 
climatic  and  economic  conditions  prevailing  in  that  country  appears 
to  afford  a  fairly  satisfactory  solution  of  the  difficulty.  Tests  of  this 
method  now  being  made  by  the  Bureaus  of  Chemistry  and  Plant 
Industry  may  eventually  lead  to  its  adoption  in  this  country  on  a 
commercial  scale. 

Meanwhile  there  has  come  to  light  an  interesting  and  promising 
variety  of  the  Japanese  persimmon,  which  ripens  late,  keeps  long, 
and  loses  its  astringence  considerably  in  advance  of  the  softening  of 
the  fruit.  The  variety  was  found  by  the  late  Mr.  C.  Falkner  in  his 
collection  at  Waco,  Tex.,  several  years  ago.  The  tree  found  was  of 
unknown  history,  and  the  exact  source  from  which  it  was  derived  is 
unknown.  Mr.  Falkner  was  of  the  opinion,  however,  that  it  reached 
him  among  other  Japanese  fruit  trees  from  Tyler,  Tex.,  which  had 
been  forwarded  from  Japan  by  the  late  ex-Governor  K.  B.  Hubbard, 
while  United  States  minister  to  Japan  [1885-1889]. 

As  the  varieties  of  the  Japanese  type  previously  known  to  Mr. 
Falkner  were  inedible  until  soft  and  the  fruit  of  this  tree  remained 
hard  and  apparently  unripe  after  the  others  had  ripened,  Mr.  Falk- 
ner considered  it  of  little  value  until  he  observed  that  birds  were 
eating  the  fruit  while  it  was  still  hard.  On  testing  it  he  was  sur- 
prised to  find  it  palatable  and  free  from  astringence.  Having  con- 
firmed the  observation  during  several  seasons,  during  which  he 
endeavored  to  ascertain  the  identity  and  Japanese  name  of  the 
variety,  he  propagated  it  in  considerable  numbers  for  a  commercial 
orchard  and  introduced  it  under  the  name  "  Lonestar  "  in  1908,  shortly 
before  his  death.  It  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  Japanese  illus- 
tration and  description  of  "  Shimo-Maru,"  published  more  than 
twenty  years  ago,  but  lacks  certain  of  the  most  striking  characteris- 
tics ascribed  to  that  variety. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  to  roundish  oblong;  size  medium;  cavity  regular, 
rather  large,  flaring,  furrowed,  and  somewhat  leather  cracked ;  calyx 
medium,  four  parted,  adherent;  stem  moderately  stout,  curved;  apex 
four  grooved,  with  a  small  tip  protruding  slightly  beyond  the  out- 
line of  the  fruit;  surface  rather  dull,  undulating,  and  sparingly 


Yearbook  U.  S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,   1908. 


PLATE  XLVIII. 


KAWAKAMI 


LONESTAR 


PERSIMMONS. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1908. 


PLATE  XLIX. 


CARMAN. 


PECANS. 


143 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  485 

pitted ;  color  dark  orange-red,  covered  with  bluish  white  bloom  which 
persists  in  the  pits;  skin  moderately  thick  and  tenacious;  seeds  few, 
of  medium  size,  plump,  brown ;  flesh  orange-red,  abundantly  flecked 
with  purple,  giving  it  a  brownish  effect  in  many  specimens;  texture 
crisp  and  meaty;  flavor  sweet,  rich,  entirely  without  astringence 
after  the  skin  reddens ;  quality  very  good.  Season  August  to  October 
in  McLennan  County,  Tex. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XL VIII  were  grown  by  the  late 
Mr.  C.  Falkner,  at  Waco,  Tex. 

The  relative  hardiness  of  the  variety  yet  remains  to  be  determined, 
as  it  has  not  been  fruited  elsewhere  than  at  Waco.  It  is  considered 
worthy  of  trial  throughout  the  territory  where  other  varieties  of  the 
Japanese  species  succeed. 

PECANS. 

[PLATE  XLIX.] 

The  planting  of  extensive  commercial  orchards  of  this  valuable 
nut  in  the  Southern  States  continues,  and  interest  in  the  species  as 
a  roadside  and  dooryard  tree  through  a  much  wider  geographical 
range  has  become  active.  While  the  importance  of  securing  varieties 
adapted  to  local  conditions  is  much  less  in  such  cases  than  where  a 
commercial  investment  depends  upon  it,  planters  of  even  a  few  trees 
should  endeavor  to  secure  varieties  that  are  known  to  have  succeeded 
tinder  conditions  similar  to  those  under  which  they  are  to  be  planted. 
This  is  especially  important  where  the  planting  is  made  in  a  different 
climatic  region  from  that  in  which  the  varieties  originated. 

The  earlier  plantings  of  budded  and  grafted  trees  of  ten  or  twelve 
of  the  leading  varieties  are  now  gradually  coming  into  bearing  in 
widely  separated  localities  throughout  the  South,  so  that  a  fairly 
definite  appraisal  of  the  value  of  these  sorts  for  many  sections  should 
soon  be  possible.  Meanwhile  the  behavior  and  characteristics  of  the 
thousands  of  seedlings  of  these  choice  varieties  that  are  annually 
coming  into  bearing  should  be  closely  observed,  with  a  view  to 
locating  still  more  promising  varieties  that  may  reasonably  be 
expected  to  appear  among  them. 

TAYLOR  PECAJ*. 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  is  supposed  to  have  been  grown 
from  a  nut  planted  by  the  brother  of  the  present  owner,  Miss  Lulu 
Taylor,  of  Handsboro,  Miss.,  about  1885.  The  exact  source  from 
which  the  seed  came  is  not  known,  but  it  is  supposed  to  have  been 
from  some  tree  in  that  neighborhood.  The  tree  began  bearing  when 
1-2  years  old  and  has  borne  regularly  since  that  time,  the  crop  for  sev- 
eral years  past  having  averaged  about  125  pounds.  The  variety  was 
first  propagated  by  W.  F.  Heikes,  of  Huntsville,  Ala.,  at  his  Biloxi, 


, 

486  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

Miss.,  nursery,  about  1901,  and,  having  been  named  in  honor  of  its 
owner,  was  introduced  by  him  in  1902.  Nuts  of  it  were  examined 
and  passed  upon  by  the  committee  of  nomenclature  and  standards 
of  the  National  Nut  Growers'  Association  at  Scranton,  Miss.,  in 
November,  1906,  at  which  time  it  received  a  grade  of  86.06  out  of  a 
possible  100. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Taylor  is  now  about  60  feet  tall,a  with  a 
spread  of  45  to  50  feet,  and  a  trunk  diameter  of  about  18  inches.  The 
bark  of  the  trunk  and  larger  branches  is  scaly,  loosening  in  long 
strips.  The  tree  is  pyramidal  in  form,  with  slender  wood  of  rather 
light  color,  with  slender  buds,  and  long,  narrow  dots.  The  leaves 
are  long,  with  11  to  13  thin  and  tapering  leaflets.  The  fruit  spurs 
are  quite  evenly  distributed  throughout  the  tree,  and  bear  from  3  to 
5  nuts  each. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  long,  rather  slender,  constricted  near  middle,  slightly  curved, 
with  pointed  base  and  long,  sharp  apex;  color  bright  yellowish 
brown,  Avith  few  and  narrow  black  markings  irregularly  placed ;  size 
rather  large,  60  to  65  per  pound ;  shell  thin,  with  thin  and  soft  parti- 
tions, cracking  very  easily;  kernel  long,  slender,  rather  deeply 
grooved,  but  plump,  smooth,  and  releasing  the  shell  easily;  color 
bright  yellowish;  texture  very  fine  grained  and  crisp;  flavor  sweet, 
nutty,  free  from  astringence;  quality  very  good. 

Though  not  yet  fruited,  so  far  as  known,  outside  of  the  locality 
of  its  origin  in  southern  Mississippi,  its  numerous  desirable  qualities 
indicate  that  it  is  worthy  of  testing  where  other  Gulf  coast  varieties 
succeed. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLIX  were  grown  on  the 
original  tree  at  Handsboro,  Miss. 

KENNEDY  PECAN. 

The  Kennedy  pecan  originated  as  a  seedling  grown  by  Dr.  J.  B. 
Curtis,  Orange  Heights,  Fla.,  in  1886,  from  nuts  of  Turkey  Egg 
obtained  by  him  from  the  late  Arthur  Brown,  of  Bagdad,  Fla.  It 
was  one  of  the  same  lot  of  seedlings  as  the  Curtis,6  and  has  had  much 
the  same  history  as  that  variety.  It  began  bearing  about  1893,  and 
was  first  propagated  by  Doctor  Curtis,  who  top-grafted  6  trees  with 
it  about  1898  or  1899,  which  averaged  50  pounds  of  nuts  per  tree 
in  1908.  Doctor  Curtis  named  it  Kennedy,  in  1900,  under  which 
name  it  was  described  by  Hume  in  that  year.6 

°Tree  description  furnished  by  Mr.  C.  A.  Reed,  special  agent. 
6  For  history,  description,  and  illustration  of  Curtis,  see  Yearbook,  1906,  p. 
SOS,   Plate  XXXII. 

c  Florida  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bulletin  54,  August,  1900. 


145 


PROMISING   XEW   FRUITS.  487 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  long,  ovate  conical,  with  a  bluntly  pointed  base  and  sharp, 
prominent  apex,  sometimes  sharply  curved;  size  medium,  60  to  65 
nuts  per  pound;  surface  smooth;  color  brigh't  golden  brown,  with  a 
few  irregular  purplish  stripes  toward  apex;  shell  medium  in  thick- 
ness, rather  hard,  but  with  thin  and  brittle  partitions;  cracking 
quality  good ;  kernel  very  plump,  thick,  with  rather  narrow  but  shal- 
low grooves ;  texture  moderately  fine  and  solid ;  flavor  swreet ;  quality 
good. 

The  tree  is  rather  round  topped,  low  headed,  symmetrical,  and 
spreading.  The  young  wood  is  of  medium  caliber,  dull  gray,  with 
short,  acute  buds,  and  numerous  long,  narrow,  light  gray  dots.  Like 
the  Curtis  it  is  leafy,  with  the  fruit  spurs  well  distributed  through 
the  tree.  The  nuts  are  borne  in  clusters  of  two  to  four  each,  and 
ripen  in  Alachua  County,  Fla..  October  15  to  20.  The  variety  is 
recommended  for  middle  and  northern  Florida,  and  it  is  worthy  of 
testing  wherever  the  Curtis  succeeds. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLIX  were  grown  by  Dr.  J.  B. 
Curtis,  Orange  Heights,  Fla. 

HODGE   PECAN. 

While  the  northern  limit  of  natural  distribution  of  the  pecan  is 
in  the  vicinity  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi 
Kiver,  and  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  in  the  Wabash  Valley,  very  few  of 
the  wild  pecan  trees  now  surviving  north  of  the  Ohio  River  yield 
nuts  of  sufficiently  large  size,  thin  shell,  and  plump  kernel  to  justify 
their  perpetuation  by  budding  or  grafting.  The  inability  of  most, 
if  not  all,  of  the  far  southern  varieties  to  endure  the  low  winter 
temperatures  that  occasionally  occur  in  the  northern  portions  of 
the  pecan  region  renders  them  of  little  prospective  value  to  northern 
growers.  There  is  much  interest,  therefore,  in  the  search  for  desir- 
able varieties  likely  to  prove  hardy  in  the  Middle  Western  and 
Middle  Atlantic  States. 

One  of  the  most  promising  sorts  of  this  character  thus  far  brought 
to  notice  is  the  Hodge,  the  original  tree  of  which  is  owned  by  Mr.  H. 
G.  Hodge,  of  York,  Clark  County,  111.  He  reports  it  to  be  a  wild 
tree,  about  10  inches  in  diameter  and  40  feet  high  in  1908,a  and  as 
yielding  about  1  bushel  of  nuts  in  that  season.  He  has  had  the 
tree  under  observation  for  several  years,  having  sent  specimens  of 
the  nuts  from  it  to  the  Department  in  various  seasons  since  1893. 
He  has  disseminated  it  in  the  form  of  nuts  for  planting  under  the 
names  "  Hodge's  Favorite "  and  "  Illinois  Mammoth,"  neither  of 
which,  however,  appears  to  have  been  published. 

a  Letters  from  H.  G..  Hodge,  November  18  and  25,  1908. 


488  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong,  obovate,  compressed,  tapering  to  a  very  prominent 
point  at  base,  with  a  square-shouldered,  quadrangular,  sharp-pointed 
apex;  surface  rather  Itimpy  and  somewhat  irregular;  size  variable, 
ranging  from  60  to  100  per  pound;  color  dull  grayish  brown,  with 
numerous  broad  and  long  black  stripes  from  apex  to  middle  of  nut : 
shell  quite  thick  and  hard  but  brittle,  with  thin  and  brittle  parti- 
tions, cracking  fairly  well;  kernel  oblong,  tapering,  rather  deeply 
grooved,  but  releasing  the  shell  rather  easily;  color  rather  bright 
yellowish  brown;  texture  moderately  fine  grained;  flavor  sweet, 
nutty;  quality  good. 

This  variety,  which  has  not  been  previously  published,  is  the 
largest  one  of  northern  origin  yet  brought  to  notice  and  is  considered 
worthy  of  testing  by  those  who  desire  to  grow  pecans  near  or  above 
the  northern  limit  of  natural  distribution  of  this  species. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLIX  were  from  the  original 
tree  owned  by  Mr.  H.  G.  Hodge,  York,  111. 

BOLTON  PECAN. 

The  original  Bolton  pecan  tree  appears  to  have  been  grown  about 
1888  from  nuts  obtained  from  an  unnamed  old  tree  on  the  Bolton 
plantation,  about  7  miles  a  south  of  Monticello,  Fla.  The  old  planta- 
tion tree  bore  nuts  of  superior  quality,  which  were  largely  planted 
throughout  that  section  during  the  period  which  antedated  the  era 
of  pecan  budding  and  grafting.  Out  of  the  many  seedlings  thus 
grown  from  it  in  the  vicinity  of  Monticello,  one  of  six  &  in  the  garden 
of  Judge  T.  M.  Puleston,  of  that  place,  which  he  had  secured  from 
Mrs.  E.  Footman,  of  Monticello,  began  bearing  at  the  age  of  8 
years.  This  soon  thereafter  attracted  the  attention  of  the  late  J.  H. 
Girardeau,  who  named  it  "  Bolton  "  and  began  propagating  from  it 
about  1899,  in  which  year  it  was  catalogued  by  him.  Mr.  Girardeau 
propagated  from  the  old  plantation  tree  and  one  or  two  other 
varieties  largely  for  several  years,  having  sold  10,000  grafted  trees 
prior  to  1904.c  He  exhibited  the  Bolton  with  others  at  the  Charleston 
Exposition  in  1902,  and  was  awarded  a  gold  medal  thereon. 

As  scions  taken  from  the  old  unnamed  seedling  tree  on  the  Bolton 
plantation  and  young  trees  propagated  therefrom  appear  to  have  been 
disseminated  under  the  name  "  Bolton  "  during  the  earlier  years  of  dis- 
semination of  the  variety,  it  is  strongly  probable  that  two  different 

0  Letter  of  Judge  T.  M.  Puleston,  January  26,  1909. 

6  Hume,  in  Florida  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bulletin  85,  March,  1906, 
p..  496. 

c  Letters  of  J.  H.  Girardeau,  sr.,  January  9,  1904,  and  J.  H.  Girardeau,  jr., 
April  3  and  5,  1909. 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  489 

varieties  will  be  found  under  this  name  when  the  plantings  already 
made  come  into  bearing.  So  far  as  known,  all  the  nursery-grown 
trees  disseminated  under  the  name  "  Bolton  "  during  the  past  ten  years 
trace  to  the  Puleston  tree,  and  this  is  considered  the  true  Bolton. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  short,  broad,  roundish  oval,  with  broad,  smooth  base  and 
blunt,  quadrangular  apex;  size  uniform,  medium,  60  to  65  per  pound; 
color  grayish  brown,  with  numerous  black  stripes  toward  apex  ;  shell 
thick,  with  thick  but  soft  partitions,  cracking  quite  easily;  kernel 
broad,  plump,  smooth,  with  broad,  shallow  grooves,  brownish  yellow. 
somewhat  convoluted;  texture  rather  soft,  but  fine  grained;  flavor 
sweet,  nutty;  quality  good  to  very  good. 

Wood  rather  stout,  straight,  greenish  to  light  gray,  with  incon- 
spicuous dots  and  slender,  rather  blunt  buds. 

The  largest  crop  yet  harvested  from  the  original  tree  was  50 
pounds,  but  as  it  has  been  heavily  cut  for  scions  that  is  not  considered 
a  fair  indication  of  the  productiveness  of  the  variety  at  its  present 
age  of  20  years. 

Though  apparently  not  as  productive  as  some  other  varieties,  this 
sort  seems  well  adapted  to  the  conditions  of  northern  Florida  and 
southern  Georgia,  where  it  is  now  in  bearing. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLIX  were  grown  by  Judge 
T.  M.  Puleston,  Monticello,  Fla. 

CABMAN  PECAN. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Carman  pecan  stands  in  the  seedling 
orchard  of  Mr.  S.  H.  James,  Mound,  La.,  which  was  grown  from  nuts 
planted  by  him  in  1884.°  It,  with  many  others,  was  grown  from 
nuts  purchased  by  Mr.  James  at  a  fancy-fruit  store  in  New  Orleans, 
the  exact  source  from  which  these  nuts  were  obtained  being  unknown 
at  the  present  time.  The  orchard  in  which  the  original  tree  stands  is 
planted  30  by  60  feet,  a  distance  entirely  too  close  for  rich  alluvial 
soils  such  as  it  is  located  on,  so  that  the  development  of  the  original 
Carman  has  been  somewhat  restricted  by  the  crowding  of  adjacent 
trees.  It  began  bearing  at  the  age  of  9  years  from  the  seed  and,  next 
to  "  Moneymaker,"  which  originated  in  the  same  orchard,  Mr.  James 
reports  it  as  the  most  promising  sort  yet  tested  at  his  place. 

Mr.  James  at  first  considered  the  Carman  tree  insufficiently  vigor- 
ous for  commercial  planting,  but,  having  increased  his  stock  of  the 
variety  to  20  trees  in  his  own  orchard,  beginning  about  1897,  he  con- 
cludes that  it  is  more  vigorous  than  a  number  of  other  sorts,  such  as 
"  Georgia,"  "  Russell,"  and  "  Halbert,"  at  his  place. 

«  Letter  of  S.  H.  James,  January  22,  1909. 


•  _^_  ^J> 

...          •-•  -^.~H.' 


490  YEAJBJEJOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF  AGRICULTURE. 

- ,-,  -.f.1'"*''*"5**""^'"  ' 

Mr'.'J'ames  named  the  variety  "  Carman  "  in  1898,a  in  honor  of  the 
late  E.  S.  Carman,  editor  of  the  Eural  New  Yorker,  and  has  spar- 
ingly propagated  and  disseminated  the  variety  since  that  time. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  very  long,  slender,  and  cylindrical,  with  rather  smooth  base 
and  prominent  quadrangular  apex,  sometimes  distinctly  curved ;  sur- 
face generally  smooth,  though  distinctly  ridged  in  some  specimens; 
size  large,  55  to  GO  nuts  per  pound ;  color  bright  brownish,  with  few 
and  narrow  purplish  stripes  toward  apex ;  shell  medium,  in  thickness 
but  soft,  with  very  soft  partitions,  cracking  easily ;  kernel  very  long, 
slender,  and  smooth,  not  always  filled  at  tips,  but  very  smooth  and 
attractive  when  plump ;  color  bright  golden ;  texture  moderately  fine 
grained  and  firm;  flavor  sweet,  rich;  quality  good  to  very  good. 
This  is  a  dessert  pecan  for  cracking  at  table,  rather  than  for  com- 
mercial crackers  or  the  confectioner. 

Tree  a  fairly  strong  grower ;  young  wood  rather  stout,  light  grayish 
green,  with  rather  numerous,  inconspicuous,  light  brown  dots.  Buds, 
small,  long,  pointed. 

No  exact  record  of  yield  of  the  tree  has  been  kept,  but  the  original 
tree  is  considered  fairly  productive,  the  crop  ripening  about  October 
10.  It  is  suggested  for  trial  in  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley. 

The  specimens  illustrated  on  Plate  XLIX  were  grown  by  Mr. 
S.  H.  James,  Mound,  La. 

a  S.  H.  James,  in  Rural  New  Yorker,  January  8,  1898,  p.  19. 

o 


Y.  B.  Separate  521. 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS 


By 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations, 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1909.] 


21010—10 


WASHINGTON    :  GOVERNMENT   PRINTING  OFFICE    :    1810 


•4  FC 


150 


CONTENTS 


Page. 

Mother  apple 376 

Coff man  apple 377 

Diploma  currant 378 

Carrie  gooseberry 379 

Winfield  raspberry 380 

Victor  roselle 381 

Pecan  varieties 382 

Bradley  pecan 383 

Claremont  pecan 384 

Halbert  pecan 384 

Mobile  pecan 385 

Daisy  pecan 385 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

PLATE  XXX.  Mother  apple  ...............................................  386 

XXXI.  Coffman  apple  ..............................................  386 

XXXII.  Diploma  currant  ............................................  386 

XXXIIL  Carrie  gooseberry  ...........................................  386 

XXXIV.  Winfield  raspberry  .........................................  386 

XXXV.  Victor  roselle  ...............................................  386 

XXXVI.  Pecan  varieties  .................................  .  ...........  386 

in 


15S 


PROMISING  NEW   FRUITS. 

t 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Field  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

Interest  in  new  fruits  varies  greatly  in  different  sections  and  at 
different  times  in  the  same  section.  Where  the  commercial  produc- 
tion of  certain  types  has  become  firmly  established  such  interest 
usually  lags  so  long  as  the  established  types  continue  to  do  well  and 
to  meet  with  good  demand  in  the  markets.  When  such  sorts  suffer 
from  unusual  or  untimely  climatic  conditions  or  prove  susceptible 
to  injury  by  diseases  or  insects  not  previously  encountered,  however, 
interest  is  at  once  aroused  and  the  need  for  varieties  superior  in  one 
or  another  important  characteristic  is  at  once  realized.  In  such  case 
the  community  which  has  within  its  borders  a  fruiting  collection  con- 
taining the  newer  sorts  is  fortunate  through  its  ability  to  gain  quickly 
the  desired  information  regarding  the  adaptability  of  such  sorts. 

Every  large  commercial  orchard  enterprise  should  in  fact  maintain 
a  carefully  selected  varietal  collection  merely  for  the  information  to 
be  derived  regarding  the  behavior  of  varieties,  against  the  possibility 
of  needing  to  top-work  blocks  of  some  of  the  older  sorts.  For  not- 
withstanding the  importance  of  cultural  methods,  including  spraying, 
and  of  skill  in  handling  and  marketing  the  product,  the  fact  remains 
conspicuously  evident  that  the  inherent  characteristics  of  varieties 
and  their  proper  adjustment  to  environment  are  factors  of  funda- 
mental importance  in  successful  orcharding. 

The  " newness"  of  varieties  is,  in  a  country  like  the  United  States, 
at  best  but  a  relative  term.  Sorts  thoroughly  tested  and  proved 
either  successes  or  failures  in  one  section  are  still  unknown  in  other 
parts.  Hardly  a  season  passes  without  bringing  to  light  some  old 
eastern  variety  that  has  found  a  congenial  home  farther  west  or  south 
than  its  previously  proved  region  of  adaptability.  Some  such  sorts 
have  accordingly  been  included  in  the  series  of  articles  on  this  subject 
which  began  in  the  Yearbook  for  1901,  in  order  that  the  attention  of 
fruit  growers  may  be  called  to  such  of  them  as  are  worthy  of  testing 
in  an  experimental  way.  The  commercial  fruit  grower  should  of 
course  bear  in  mind  that  these  are  not  recommended  for  extensive 
planting  outside  of  the  localities  where  they  have  already  proved 
their  adaptability,  but  that  they  are  suggested  as  promising  for  trial. 
With  most  of  the  tree  fruits  several  fruiting  seasons  are  required  to 
determine  whether  a  new  sort  is  worthy  of  commercial  planting  in  a 
locality. 

375 


376  YEARBOOK   OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

MOTHER    APPLE. 
SYNONYMS:  American  Mother,  Gardner 's  Apple,  Queen  Anne. 

[PLATE  XXX.] 

This  choice  early  winter  apple,  though  hardly  entitled  to  desig- 
nation as  a  new  sort,  is  being  found  adapted  to  a  much  wider  climatic 
range  than  has  previously  been  thought  possible. 

The  exact  time  of  its  origin  is  not  known,  but  it  appears  to  have 
originated  on  the  farm  of  Gen.  Stephen  P.  Gardner,  of  Bolton,  Mass., 
rather  early  in  the  last  century.  The  first  public  notice  that  it 
received  appears  to  have  been  in  1844,  when  Hovey  reported  it  as 
having  been  exhibited  before  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural 
Society  the  preceding  autumn. a 

At  the  North  American  Pomological  Convention  held  in  Buffalo 
in  September,  1848,  it  was  decided  to  be  of  "first-rate  character," 
and  a  description  and  outline  of  the  variety  were  published  in  the 
account  of  that  meeting  for  that  year.6  The  first  adequate  descrip- 
tion and  outline  of  the  variety  were  published  by  Hovey c  in  1849. 
With  five  other  varieties  it  was  listed  by  the  American  Pomological 
Society  in  1852  in  a  group  of  "New  Varieties  which  Promise  Well," 
and  it  appears  to  have  quickly  attained  high  reputation  as  a  dessert 
apple.  The  small  size  of  tree,  earliness  of  ripening  season,  and  the 
relative  susceptibility  of  the  fruit  to  apple  scab  appear  to  have  held 
it  out  of  the  market  lists  until  recently. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  oblong  to  oblong  conic,  indistinctly  ribbed;  size 
large;  cavity  regular,  small  to  medium  in  size,  moderately  deep, 
with  gradual  slope  and  russet  markings;  stem  short,  moderately 
stout;  calyx  segments  small,  converging;  eye  small,  closed;  surface 
moderately  smooth,  rather  dull,  rarely  glossy;  color  rich  yellow, 
washed  with  mixed  red  and  striped  with  crimson;  dots  numerous, 
small  to  medium  in  size,  brown  and  yellow;  skin  moderately  thick; 
core  rather  large,  roundish,  clasping,  open;  calyx  tube  rather  deep, 
varying  from  funnel  shaped  to  cylindrical;  seeds  small,  plump, 
brown,  numerous;  flesh  yellowish,  fine  grained,  crisp,  and  juicy; 
flavor  mild  but  distinctly  subacid  and  rich,  with  a  characteristic 
aroma  which  distinguishes  it  from  other  sorts;  quality  very  good. 
Season,  November  to  January  in  the  northern  winter  apple  regions, 
but  becoming  a  late  fall  apple  farther  south. 

Like  some  other  sorts  that  have  long  been  known  and  somewhat 
planted  in  the  northern  winter  apple  districts  chiefly  as  home  orchard 

a  Magazine  of  Horticulture,  1844,  p.  210. 

&  Transactions  of  the  N.  Y.  State  Agricultural  Society  for  1848,  p.  281. 

c  Magazine  of  Horticulture,  January,  1849,  p.  65. 


15 

PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS.  377 

varieties  of  high,  quality,  the  Mother  in  recent  years  is  attracting 
attention  as  a  commercial  sort. 

The  tree  is  but  a  moderately  vigorous  grower  and  does  best  on 
more  vigorous  stocks.  Its  behavior  farther  south  (as  recently  ob- 
served) indicates  an  adaptability  to  Appalachian  conditions  not  pre- 
viously recognized,  so  that  it  appears  worthy  of  testing  in  all  districts 
where  varieties  like  Baldwin  and  Esopus  succeed,  to  which  it  is  evi- 
dently rather  closely  related. 

Its  behavior  under  modern  cultural  methods  indicates  its  adapta- 
bility to  conditions  as  widely  different  as  those  of  New  England, 
eastern  New  York,  North  Carolina,  western  Michigan,  and  portions 
of  Washington.  When  planted  commercially  the  fruit  would 
undoubtedly  need  to  be  handled  in  special  trade. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXX  was  grown  by  Mr.  J.  W. 
Van  Deman,  Benzonia,  Mich. 

COFFMAN   APPLE. 
SYNONYMS:  Knffman  June,  Summer  Red. 

[PLATE  XXXI.] 

This  very  promising  early  apple  has  long  been  grown  in  western 
Tennessee,  where  it  was  propagated  by  "sprouts"  from  an  old  tree  on 
the  farm  of  Mr.  W.  L.  Coffman,  inLauderdale  County,  as  early  as  1855.a 
Though  apparently  not  much  propagated  in  nurseries  of  that  section 
it  appears  to  have  been  considerably  distributed  throughout  western 
Tennessee,  northern  Alabama,  and  to  some  extent  in  Arkansas  before 
its  formal  introduction  to  the  nursery  trade  by  Mr.  B.  A.  Craddock 
about  1888.  Its  close  resemblance  to  Red  June  (synonym,  Carolina 
Red  June)  gives  ground  for  the  belief  that  it  is  a  seedling  of  that  well- 
known  old  sort.  It  was  described  without  illustration  by  Heiges  in 
18956  and  the  evidence  of  its  wide  range  of  adaptability  to  southern 
conditions  accumulated  since  that  time  indicates  that  it  is  at  the 
present  time  one  of  the  most  promising  early  varieties  for  both  home 
use  and  market  in  the  South. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  oblong  to  oblong  conic,  often  slightly  oblique  and  tapering 
toward  base;  size  medium  to  large;  cavity  small  to  medium,  deep, 
abrupt,  marked  with  russet;  stem  very  short,  rather  stout;  basin  of 
medium  size,  regular,  deep,  abrupt,  marked  with  shallow  furrows 
and  somewhat  downy;  calyx  segments  long,  narrow,  converging, 
reflexed  at  tip;  eye  small,  closed;  surface  smooth,  glossy;  color  pale 

a  Letter  from  Mr.  B.  A.  Craddock,  Curve,  Tenn.,  1895. 
&  Report  of  Pomologist  for  1895,  p.  21. 


YEARBOOK   OF   THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

yellow,  washed  over  practically  the  entire  surface  with  mixed  red, 
striped  with  dark  purplish  red,  and  thinly  overspread  with  gray; 
dots  numerous,  small,  gray  and  yellow;  skin  rather  thick  and  tough, 
tenacious;  core  small,  conical,  very  open,  meeting  the  eye;  calyx 
tube  long,  large;  seeds  of  medium  size,  plump,  brown,  rather  numer- 
ous; flesh  yellowish,  tinged  with  red,  rather  fine  grained,  breaking 
and  rather  juicy;  flavor  sprightly  sub  acid ;  quality  good  to  very  good. 
Season,  June  and  July,  in  Hardman  County,  Tenn. 

The  tree  is  a  vigorous  and  upright  grower,  with  reddish-brown 
bark  on  the  young  wood.  It  is  reported  to  be  abundantly  and 
regularly  productive,  the  original  tree  not  having  missed  a  crop 
in  thirty  years. 

The  reviving  interest  in  summer  apples  for  commercial  planting 
renders  this  variety  of  the  Red  June  group  well  worthy  of  the  atten- 
tion of  planters  south  of  the  Ohio  and  Potomac  rivers.  It  appears 
to  possess  all  the  merits  of  the  Red  June  coupled  with  larger  size 
and  better  carrying  quality. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXI  was  grown  by  Mr.  J.  M. 
Morris,  Grand  Junction,  Tenn. 

DIPLOMA    CURRANT. 

SYNONYM:  Moore's  No.  180. 

[PLATE  XXXII.] 

This  promising  sort  was  grown  in  1885  by  the  late  Jacob  Moore,  of 
Brighton,  N.  Y.,  as  a  seedling  of  the  Cherry  currant,  the  blossoms 
of  which  had  been  fertilized  with  pollen  of  the  White  Grape  currant 
during  the  previous  season.  Fruit  of  it  was  submitted  in  1896  by 
Mr.  Moore  to  the  Department  for  examination  under  its  provisional 
designation  "No.  180,"  and  in  1897  Mr.  Moore  named  it  Diploma. 
It  was  formally  introduced  to  cultivation  in  1906  by  Mr.  Charles  A. 
Green,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

The  originator,  who  grew  a  large  number  of  seedling  currants,  con- 
sidered it  his  largest  fruited  variety,  averaging  larger  in  size  than 
its  parent  the  Cherry  and  outyielding  that  variety  under  the  same 
conditions  and  treatment,  while  at  the  .same  time  milder  in  acid  and 
of  better  quality  than  that  sort. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Racemes  short  to  medium  in  length  and  rather  slender,  carrying 
from  5  to  8  berries  each;  berries  globular,  large  to  very  large,  on 
pedicels  of  moderate  length,  to  which  they  adhere  rather  tenaciously ; 
corolla  brown,  small,  tenacious;  surface  smooth,  glossy;  color  bright, 
rich,  crimson,  not  fading  quickly  after  picking,  with  narrow  yellow 
veins  and  showing  the  seeds  through  the  translucent  flesh  and  skin; 
seeds  rather  large,  numerous,  and  rather  woody;  flesh  reddish, 


15V 

PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS.  379 

translucent,  moderately  firm  but  tender,  abundantly  juicy  but  of 
fair  shipping  quality ;  flavor  sprightly  subacid ;  quality  good  to  very 
good.  Season,  the  second  half  of  July,  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Wood  and  foliage  similar  to  Cherry,  but  more  vigorous  than  that 
variety. 

A  promising  sort  for  both  the  home  garden  and  the  market  planta- 
tion. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXII  was  grown  by  Green's 
Nursery  Company,  Rochester,  X.  Y. 

CARRIE    GOOSEBERRY. 

[PLATE  XXXIII.] 

While  the  gooseberry  has  not  yet  attained  the  standing  as  a  home 
garden  or  market  fruit  in  the  United  States  that  is  accorded  to  it  in 
some  of  the  European  countries,  especially  the  United  Kingdom, 
there  are  few  fruit  gardens  in  the  Northern  States  where  it  is  unrepre- 
sented, while  in  some  sections  it  has  become  an  important  market 
fruit.  The  failure  of  the  highly  developed  European  varieties  to 
endure  our  more  intense  and  variable  climatic  conditions  is  doubtless 
the  explanation  of  the  general  lack  of  interest  among  American 
growers,  which  is  indicated  by  the  very  small  number  of  American 
varieties  that  have  appeared  thus  far.  Hardly  more  than  a  half  dozen 
such  sorts,  including  Houghton,  which  originated  in  1833,  and  Down- 
ing, about  1854, a  have  as  yet  established  their  value  as  desirable  sorts. 
A  few  of  the  European  sorts  when  given  special  care  and  attention 
have  been  found  fairly  successful,  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  of 
these  being  Industry,  which  was  introduced  into  the  United  States 
by  Ellwanger  &  Barry  about  1883.  Seedlings  are  still  being  grown, 
however,  and  some  systematic  breeding  work  is  being  done  that 
promises  to  yield  varieties  better  adapted  to  the  conditions  prevailing 
in  particular  districts  than  any  yet  disseminated,  both  as  regards 
disease  resistance,  cold  endurance,  and  productiveness.  One  of  the 
most  promising  of  those  recently  disseminated  is  the  Carrie,  which 
originated  as  a  seedling  of  Houghton,  grown  by  Mr.  Wyman  Elliot,  of 
Minneapolis,  Minn.,  in  1893.  It  was  one  of  some  700  seedlings  that 
resulted  from  a  supposed  cross  of  Industry,  of  which  one  bush  stood 
adjacent  to  the  mother  Houghton  bush.  In  the  spring  of  1894  the 
seedlings  were  removed  to  the  farm  of  Mr.  Thomas  Redpath,  near 
Lake  Minnetonka,  where  one  bush  was  soon  discovered  to  be  superior 
to  all  the  others  in  several  important  particulars.  This,  which  was 
the  original  Carrie,  bore  some  fruit  the  first  year  after  transplanting, 
and  at  4  years  of  age  produced  8  quarts  of  berries.  Having  good 
foliage  and  being  of  vigorous  growth,  and  having  maintained  regular 
productiveness  without  showing  any  winter  injury,  its  commercial 

a  Magazine  of  Horticulture,  1857,  p.  516. 


a       J  (» 

380  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

introduction  was  decided  on  in  1903,  and  its  propagation  by  layers 
and  cuttings  was  begun  in  that  year.  The  variety  was  named  Carrie 
in  honor  of  Mrs.  Redpath,  and  was  introduced  in  1905  by  Elliot  and 
Redpath. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Berries  borne  singly  or  in  pairs  or  triplets  with  occasionally  5  in  a 
cluster ;  size  medium,  though  sometimes  large ;  form  roundish  oval  with 
an  unusually  long,  meaty  shank  at  the  base;  pedicel  very  slender, 
rather  tenacious;  corolla  rather  small,  adherent;  surface  smooth, 
glaucous;  color  greenish,  changing  to  purplish  red  on  the  exposed 
side,  and  conspicuously  veined  with  white;  flesh  greenish,  trans- 
lucent, rather  firm,  fine  grained,  pulpy,  juicy;  flavor  a  pleasant  sub- 
acid;  quality  good  to  very  good.  Wood  long,  rather  slender,  willowy; 
very  productive;  foliage  large,  thick,  glossy,  free  from  disease. 

Recommended  for  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley  and  other  sections 
having  severe  winters  and  hot  summers. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXIII  were  grown  by  Elliot 
and  Redpath,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

WINFIELD   RASPBERRY. 

[PLATE  XXXIV.] 

The  original  plant  of  this  promising  blackcap  was  found  in  June, 
1902,  as  an  accidental  seedling  in  a  grape  arbor  in  the  garden  of 
Mr.  G.  F.  Kleinsteiber,  in  Winfield,  Kans.  Mr.  Kleinsteiber  was 
strongly  inclined  to  destroy  the  stray  seedling  as  a  weed,  but  his  wife 
induced  him  to  retain  it  until  after  it  should  fruit.  The  plant  proved 
a  vigorous  grower  and  matured  a  strong  cane  which  grew  out  through 
the  side  of  the  arbor  and,  true  to  the  habit  of  its  species,  struck  root 
at  its  tip  in  the  soil  outside.  The  handsome  color,  large  size,  and 
fine  quality  of  the  crop  when  it  fruited  encouraged  Mr.  Kleinsteiber 
to  propagate  it  for  his  own  planting  and  it  soon  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  others,  with  the  result  that  the  Winfield  Nursery  Company 
introduced  the  variety  in  1909. 

Nine  plants  of  it  in  the  garden  of  Mr.  Kleinsteiber  yielded  54 
quarts  of  berries  in  one  season  when  the  crop  of  Kansas  raspberry 
beside  it  was  destroyed  by  frost,  while  in  1908  he  sold  $40  worth  of 
fruit  from  a  plot  32  by  95  feet  in  his  garden  at  an  average  price  of 
$3.50  per  crate  of  24  boxes  in  addition  to  60  boxes  of  fruit  used  at 
home.a 

DESCRIPTION. 

Berries  roundish  oblate,  large  to  very  large,  borne  in  a  compact 
cluster  of  from  10  to  16  fruits,  sometimes  having  1  or  2  isolated  lower 

a  Information  furnished  by  Mr.  Kleinsteiber,  July,  1909,  through  Mr.  H.  P.  Gould, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Fruit  District  Investigations. 


ir 

PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS.  381 

berries ;  drupes  large,  fleshy,  glossy,  black,  with  heavy  bloom,  adhering 
rather  closely  to  the  receptacle;  seeds  small;  pedicels  slender, 
thorny;  calyx  of  medium  size;  flesh  dark  purplish  red  or  black,  firm 
and  meaty  but  juicy  and  tender;  flavor  subacid  with  pleasant  aroma; 
quality  good  to  very  good.  Season,  early  June  in  Cowley  County, 
Kans. 

The  bush  is  a  strong,  vigorous  grower,  apparently  hardy  and  worthy 
of  planting  wherever  the  blackcaps  succeed,  especially  in  the  prairie 
region,  where  many  of  the  eastern  varieties  fail. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXIV  was  grown  by  the 
Winfield  Nursery  Company,  Winfield,  Kans. 

VICTOR    ROSELLE. 
[PLATE  XXXV.] 

The  roselle,  Hibiscus  sabdariffa  Linn.,  though  native  to  the  Old 
World  Tropics,  has  long  been  sparingly  introduced  to  the  West  Indies 
and  elsewhere  in  tropical  America.  It  was  reported  in  Jamaica  as 
early  as  1707  a  by  Hans  Sloane,  who  stated  that  it  was  planted  in 
most  gardens  of  that  island,  where  "The  capsular  leaves  are  made  use 
of  for  making  Tarts,  Gellies,  and  Wine,  to  be  used  in  fevers  and  hot 
distempers,  to  allay  heat  and  quench  thirst."  In  Florida,  where  the 
date  of  its  introduction,  though  unrecorded,  is  evidently  recent,  it 
is  very  commonly  known  as  "  Jamaica  Sorrel,"  and  in  parts  of  tropi- 
cal America,  notably  the  Canal  Zone,  it  bears  this  name,  indicating 
the  Jamaican  channel  through  which  the  species  was  probably  dis- 
tributed in  the  New  World.  Notwithstanding  its  long  recognition 
as  a  valuable  plant  in  both  the  Old  and  the  New  Worlds,  little  atten- 
tion appears  to  have  been  paid  to  the  development  of  improved 
strains  until  recently.  In  fact,  so  far  as  known  the  Victor  is  the  first 
variety  or  race  to  be  dignified  with  a  varietal  name.  This  is  probably 
due  to  the  fact  that  in  India,  as  has  been  stated  by  Wester,5  the 
species,  though  recognized  as  possessing  edible  qualities,  has  chiefly 
been  grown  as  a  fiber  plant  rather  than  for  its  edible  calyces,  the 
portion  prized  in  the  American  Tropics.  As  the  plant  is  a  tropical 
annual  requiring  at  least  six  months  of  warm  weather  free  from  frost 
to  bring  it  up  to  the  beginning  of  its  harvest  period  and  about  two 
months  more  to  mature  its  full  crop,  its  chief  interest  to  American 
planters  will  be  in  southern  Florida  and  frost-free  localities  in  Calif ornia, 
together  with  Porto  Rico,  the  Canal  Zone,  Hawaii,  and  the  Philippines. 
Its  luxuriant  growth  and  great  productiveness  may  render  it  sufficiently 
profitable  in  some  sections  where  frost  occurs  too  early  to  permit  its 
seed  to  ripen,  however.  It  appears  not  improbable  that  earlier 

a  Natural  History  of  Jamaica,  1707,  vol.  1,  p.  224. 
&  Farmers'  Bulletin  307,  p.  9. 


16 

382  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

maturing  varieties  may  yet  be  developed  which  may  be  adapted  to 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  cotton  States. 

The  Victor  was  originated  at  Miami,  Fla.,  by  Mr.  P.  J.  Wester, 
Special  Agent  in  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry.  Having  obtained 
a  few  plants  of  the  common  roselle  in  1904  from  Mr.  W.  A.  H.  Hobbs, 
of  Cocoanut  Grove,  for  planting  in  the  Subtropical  Garden  at  Miami, 
Mr.  Wester  observed  marked  variation  among  them  and  began  select- 
ing seed  from  those  bearing  the  largest  calyces  and  showing  other 
desirable  characteristics,  with  the  result  that  in  the  second  genera- 
tion of  plants  (1906)  the  strain  was  considered  fixed  and  has  so 
continued. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Mr.  Wester's  characterization  of  the  Victor  is  as  follows:0 

''The  plants  of  the  Victor  variety  are  inclined  to  be  a  trifle  more 
dwarf  than  the  common  kind,  but  the  foliage  is  similar.  The  meas- 
urements of  the  calyx  of  the  common  variety  are :  Length  33  mm., 
diameter  22  mm. ;  in  the  improved  type  the  measurements  are  49  mm. 
and  28  mm.,  respectively.  The  increase  in  size  is  thus  seen  to  be 
rather  more  in  length  than  in  diameter.  Calyces  of  the  improved 
type  have  in  some  instances  been  60  mm.  long  and  38  mm.  in  diam- 
eter. The  improved  type  is  also  distinct  in  being  more  strongly 
ribbed  longitudinally  and  in  having  the  calyx  not  so  closely  appressed 
to  the  seed  pod  as  in  the  common  variety.  It  is  frequently  inclined 
to  be  convolute  at  the  apex." 

As  a  tropical  plant  yielding  a  quick  return  in  the  form  of  a  sauce, 
jam,  and  jelly  producing  fruit,  closely  resembling  in  quality  the  cran- 
berry of  the  North,  the  Victor  is  worthy  of  testing  wherever  the  com- 
mon roselle  has  been  found  to  succeed.  To  obtain  the  highest  yield  of 
large  calyces,  the  seeds  are  planted  in  southern  Florida  about  May  15. 
The  young  seedlings  are  transplanted  to  the  field  when  3  or  4  inches 
high,  and  begin  blossoming  late  in  October.  The  first  fruit  is  gathered 
about  the  middle  of  November  and  should  be  harvested  as  rapidly  as 
it  reaches  suitable  size  in  order  to  insure  continuance  of  blossoming 
and  fruiting  until  late  in  February.6 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXV  were  grown  at  the  Sub- 
tropical Garden  at  Miami,  Fla. 

PECAN   VARIETIES. 
[PLATE  XXXVI.] 

The  numerous  pecan  orchards  that  are  now  attaining  bearing  age 
in  the  Southern  States  emphasize  the  fact  that  it  is  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  commercial  planters  of  this  nut  should  exercise 

a  Farmers'  Bulletin  307,  p.  10. 

b  Full  details  regarding  the  culture,  yield,  uses,  and  other  important  points  of 
roselle  will  be  found  in  Farmers'  Bulletin  307. 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  383 

great  care  to  secure  varieties  adapted  to  the  conditions  of  the  section 
where  they  are  to  be  planted.  While  trees  of  varieties  that  prove 
unsuited  to  conditions  can  be  top-worked  and  converted  into  other 
sorts,  the  expense  of  such  conversion  and  the  time  required  to  accom- 
plish it  render  it  important  that  the  necessity  for  such  top  budding 
and  grafting  be  avoided  if  possible.  Careful  investigation  of  the 
behavior  of  varieties  already  growing  in  a  locality  or  under  conditions 
as  similar  as  can  be  found  is  the  only  safe  course  for  the  pecan  planter 
in  selecting  his  varieties.  While  nothing  short  of  actual  test  of  a 
variety  in  the  locality  can  be  considered  sufficient,  in  the  absence  of 
such  test  the  grower  will  do  well  to  confine  his  commercial  plantings 
to  varieties  that  have  originated  in  his  own  region,  rather  than  to 
rely  on  sorts  that  have  been  developed  under  radically  different 
climatic  conditions. 

BRADLEY  PECAN. 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  was  grown  from  a  Frotscher  pecan 
planted  about  1886  at  Macclenny,  Fla.,  by  Mr.  D.  C.  Griffing.  It  bore 
its  first  nuts  in  1892,  and  its  precocity  and  productiveness,  coupled 
with  its  early  ripening  season,  caused  its  owners  to  begin  the  propaga- 
tion of  it  about  1896.  It  was  catalogued  and  introduced  in  1898  by 
the  Griffing  Brothers  Company.  The  original  tree  has  been  heavily 
cut  for  scions,  so  that  no  very  accurate  determination  of  its  produc- 
tiveness has  been  possible,  but  it  is  reported  to  have  borne  well  and 
regularly  up  to  1907,  when  it  yielded  nearly  200  pounds  of  nuts. 
Since  then  the  crop  has  been  light. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  long,  oval  to  cylindrical,  somewhat  compressed,  with  a 
rather  long,  pointed  base  and  long,  angular  apex;  surface  smooth; 
size  medium,  65  to  80  nuts  to  the  pound;  color  bright  grayish  brown 
with  dark  reddish  black  markings  near  apex ;  shell  thin,  rather  hard, 
cracking  easily  and  releasing  kernel  readily;  kernel  brownish,  plump, 
considerably  corrugated  and  broadly  grooved ;  texture  firm,  compact ; 
flavor  sweet ;  quality  very  good.  Season  early. 

The  tree  resembles  its  parent,  the  Frotscher,  considerably ,  is  a  vigor- 
ous grower,  of  erratic,  spreading  habit,  with  narrow,  thin  foliage  and 
carrying  its  fruit  spurs  well  through  th$  tree.  The  young  wood  is 
smooth  and  brown,  with  numerous  large,  light  dots. 

Under  favorable  conditions  the  young  trees  are  very  vigorous  and 
productive,  some  in  Thomasville,  Ga.,  about  7  years  old  having  been 
observed  in  1909  breaking  down  with  their  load  of  nuts.0 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXVI  were  grown  by  "Mr. 
R.  S.  Heeth,  Thomasville,  Ga. 

a  Reported  by  Mr.  C.  A.  Reed,  Special  Agent,  September,  1909. 


16  w 

384  YEABBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTUBE. 

CLAREMONT  PECAN. 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  is  a  seedling  about  thirty  years  old 
on  Pecania  (formerly  Claremont)  Plantation  near  Ferriday,  Con- 
cordia  Parish,  La.  The  tree,  which  is  isolated  from  others  of  its 
species,  began  bearing  about  1895  and  has  borne  regularly  and  heavily 
each  year  since.  The  crop  of  1908  totaled  nearly  450  pounds. 
That  of  1909  was  considerably  lessened  by  a  severe  storm  in  Septem- 
ber, but  amounted  to  about  350  pounds.  The  variety  was  named 
Claremont  in  1907  by  Prof.  H.  E.  Van  Deman  when  its  propagation 
was  begun. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  ovate,  with  flattened  base  and  short,  blunt  apex; 
size  medium,  55  to  75  nuts  to  the  pound;  color  dull  grayish  brown 
with  numerous  purplish  markings  toward  apex  and  scattered  flecks 
over  general  surface;  shell  moderately  thick  and  rather  hard,  but 
cracking  easily  and  releasing  kernel  exceptionally  well;  kernel  plump, 
slightly  corrugated  and  broadly  grooved,  of  a  pale  yellowish  color; 
texture  compact;  flavor  sweet;  quality  good  to  very  good.  Season 
medium. 

The  tree  is  a  strong,  symmetrical,  upright  grower  with  fruit  spurs 
well  distributed,  bearing  clusters  of  from  1  to  8  nuts,  usually  3  or  4. 
The  young  wood  is  smooth  and  brown,  with  stubby,  hairy  buds. 
Though  not  yet  fruited  except  on  the  original  tree,  the  variety  is 
apparently  promising  for  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXVI  are  from  the  original 
tree  on  Pecania  Plantation  at  Ferriday,  La. 

H ALBERT  PECAN. 

The  Halbert  pecan  was  discovered  as  a  wild  tree  in  a  grove  near 
Coleman,  Tex.,  by  Mr.  H.  A.  Halbert  in  1886.  Shortly  after  this  Mr. 
Halbert  took  possession  of  the  land  on  which  the  tree  stood  and 
began  disseminating  the  variety  in  the  form  of  nuts.  It  was  named 
Halbert  by  him  about  1901,a  and  on  December  10  of  that  year6  was 
awarded  the  first  premium  in  a  pecan  competition  at  Waco,  Tex., 
for  the  best  pound  of  pecans  exhibited. 

The  first  propagation  of  the  variety  by  budding  was  by  Mr.  Halbert 
in  1901. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  short,  roundish  oval,  compressed,  with  blunt  base  and  very 
short,  blunt,  quadrangular  apex;  size  medium,  65  to  70  nuts  to  the 
pound;  color  rather  dull  reddish  brown  with  reddish  black  markings; 
shell  very  thin  and  rather  brittle;  cracking  quality  excellent,  releas- 

o  Letter  from  Mr.  H.  A.  Halbert,  January  29,  1902. 
6  Texas  Farm  and  Ranch,  December  28,  1901,  p.  13. 


16' 


U 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  385 

ing  the  kernel  easily  and  completely;  kernel  bright,  very  plump, 
deeply  grooved;  texture  firm,  oily;  flavor  sweet;  quality  very  good. 

The  tree  is  described  as  of  willowy  growth,  with  slender,  long- 
jointed  wood.  It  is  reported  to  be  a  very  heavy  bloomer,  with  fruit- 
ing clusters  of  3  to  5  nuts,  with  sometimes  as  many  as  8.  Mr.  Halbert 
reports  that  it  has  borne  22  crops  during  the  twenty-three  years  he 
has  had  the  tree  under  observation. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXVI  were  grown  by  Mr. 
H.  A.  Halbert,  Coleman,  Tex. 

MOBILE  PECAN. 
SYNONYMS:  Laurendine,  Batey's  Perfection. 

The  Mobile  pecan  appears  to  have  originated  as  a  seedling  from 
a  planted  nut  at  Bayou  Labatre,  Ala.,  about  1887.  Though  early 
attaining  a  high  reputation  locally,  it  does  not  appear  to  have 
attracted  attention  elsewhere  nor  to  have  been  propagated  by  bud- 
ding and  grafting  until  about  1900,a  when  it  was  propagated  by 
F.  H.  Lewis  and  I.  P.  Delmas,  of  Scranton,  Miss.  About  1904-5  it 
was  propagated  by  Mr.  John  B.  Davis,  of  Mobile,  Ala.,  and  B.  W. 
Stone  &  Co.,  of  Thomasville,  Ga.  The  variety  was  catalogued  and 
disseminated  as  the  Mobile  by  the  Stone  Nursery  in  1904-5,  though 
it  had  been  locally  known  at  Bayou  Labatre  under  the  name 
Laurendine  for  some  years.  Later  it  was  somewhat  disseminated 
by  Mr.  C.  C.  Batey  as  Batey's  Perfection,  under  which  name  it  is 
found  in  a  number  of  orchards  in  Georgia.  The  original  tree  is 
reported  to  be  a  heavy  bearer  of  large  nuts,  one  crop  having  attained 
a  total  of  400  pounds.  For  several  years  past  the  crop  on  the  orig- 
inal tree  has  shown  a  large  proportion  of  faulty  kernels. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  long,  cylindrical,  four-angled,  sometimes  constricted  at  the 
middle  and  obovate;  base  pointed,  apex  conspicuously  four-angled, 
surface  often  lumpy;  large,  55  to  65  nuts  to  the  pound;  color  bright 
yellowish  brown  with  narrow  purplish  black  markings  toward  apex; 
shell  very  thin,  with  thin  and  soft  partitions,  cracking  easily  and 
releasing  kernel  readily;  kernel  long,  slender,  broadly  and  deeply 
grooved,  considerably  corrugated,  and  not  always  plump  at  the  tip; 
texture  rather  coarse;  flavor  sweet;  quality  good. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXVI  were  grown  by  Mr. 
F.  H.  Lewis,  Scranton,  Miss. 

DAISY  PECAN. 

The  Daisy  pecan  was  originated  about  1881 6  by  Mr.  F.  R.Wagen- 
fuehr,  of  New  Braunfels,  Tex.,  as  one  of  20  seedlings  grown  by  him 

«  Letter  from  Mr.  F.  H.  Lewis,  February  17, 1910. 
6  Letter  from  Mr.  Otto  Locke,  February  18,  1910. 


386  YEARBOOK   OF   THE  DEPARTMENT   OF  AGRICULTURE. 

from  nuts  obtained  on  the  Guadalupe  River  bottom.  Of  these  about 
12  survived  and  attained  bearing  age.  The  Daisy  began  bearing 
about  1896  and  is  reported  to  have  borne  good  crops  regularly  since. 
Seedlings  grown  from  the  nuts  of  this  tree  appear  to  have  been 
distributed  under  the  name  Daisy  for  several  years  prior  to  its  dis- 
semination in  1900  by  Otto  Locke,  of  New  Braunfels,  Tex.,  in  the 
form  of  scions  for  grafting.  It  appears  to  have  been  grafted  first 
in  1900  a  by  Mr.  J.  F.  Lyendecker,  of  Frelsburg,  Tex. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  long,  cylindrical,  compressed,  with  rounded  base  and  blunt 
apex;  size  medium  to  large,  55  to  75  nuts  to  the  pound,  varying  con- 
siderably in  different  seasons;  surface  rather  lumpy;  color  reddish 
brown  with  a  few  splashes  of  purplish  black  near  apex  and  small 
flecks  of  similar  color  generally  over  the  surface;  shell  moderately 
thin,  cracking  easily  but  clinging  rather  tightly  to  the  kernel;  kernel 
bright  yellow,  plump,  glossy,  broadly  grooved;  texture  rather  brittle; 
flavor  sweet;  quality  very  good. 

The  tree  is  of  vigorous,  upright,  spreading  growth,  with  smooth, 
stocky,  greenish-brown  young  wood,  with  large  buds  and  large  dark- 
green  foliage. 

The  productiveness  of  the  original  tree  has  not  yet  been  very  satis- 
factorily determined,  as  it  has  been  crowded  by  other  trees  in  close 
proximity,  but  the  apparently  vigorous  growth  of  young  grafted 
trees  and  its  entire  freedom  from  pecan  scab  in  the  East  thus  far 
renders  it  a  promising  sort. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXVI  were  grown  by  Mr. 
Otto  Locke,  New  Braunfels,  Tex. 

a  Letter  from  Mr.  Otto  Locke,  February  18,  1910. 

o 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Oept   of  Agriculture,  1909. 


PLATE  XXX. 


MOTHER  APPLE. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1909, 


PLATE  XXXI. 


COFFMAN  APPLE. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1909. 


PLATE  XXXII. 


^1 


DIPLOMA  CURRANT. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1909 


PLATE  XXXIII. 


CARRIE  GOOSEBERRY. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture,  1909. 


PLATE  XXXIV. 


WINFIELD  RASPBERRY. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Oept.  af  Agriculture,  1909 


PLATE  XXXV 


VICTOR  ROSELLE. 


r'earbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1909 


PLATE  XXXVI 


MOBILE. 


DAISY. 


PECAN    VARIETIES. 


Y.B.  Separate 549. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 


By 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  and  Assistant  Chief,  Bureau  cf  Plant  Industry. 


[FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1910.] 


'—11 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  :  1911 


16 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction 425 

Lowry  apple 426 

Kinnard  apple 427 

Payne  peach 428 

Hoosier  raspberry 429 

Dugat  orange 430 

Family  avocado 431 

Cecil  mango 432 

Tamopan  persimmon 433 


.    ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page. 

PLATE  XXXIII.  Lowry  apple 428 

XXXIV.  Kinnardapple 428 

XXXV.  Paynepeach 428 

XXXVI.  Hoosier  raspberry 428 

XXXVII.  Dugat  orange 432 

XXXVIII.  Family  avocado 432 

XXXIX.  Cecilmango 432 

XL.  Tamopan  persimmon 432 

in 


168 


16 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WLLLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 
Pomologist  and  Assistant  Chief,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

In  a  country  possessing  the  broad  area  of  the  United  States,  with  its 
wide  range  of  climatic  and  soil  conditions,  the  question  as  to  what 
varieties  of  fruits  should  be  selected  for  planting  is  of  necessity  an 
important  one.  While  with  some  of  the  fruits  in  some  sections  expe- 
rience with  certain  varieties  has  proved  them  to  be  so  satisfactory 
that  there  is  little  incentive  to  seek  better  sorts,  this  is  far  from  true 
with  regard  to  most  fruits  in  most  sections.  And  while  in  general 
it  is  to  be  expected  that  the  varieties  best  adapted  to  a  particular 
region  are  such  as  originated  therein,  there  are  many  conspicuous 
instances  where  varieties  have  found  very  congenial  homes  at  points 
far  remote  from  their  places  of  origin  and  under  climatic  and  soil 
conditions  very  different  from  those  places. 

The  exceptional  success  of  such  varieties  as  the  Yellow  Newtown 
apple  in  portions  of  Virginia,  Oregon,  and  Washington;  the  Jona- 
than apple  in  Illinois,  Colorado,  California,  and  Idaho;  and  the 
Esopus  (synonym  Spitzenburg)  apple  in  portions  of  Oregon  and 
Washington,  all  of  which  varieties  originated  in  eastern  and  south- 
eastern Xew  York,  are  cases  in  point.  Such  examples  should  en- 
courage the  systematic  testing  of  promising  new  fruits  as  they  come 
to  notice  from  time  to  time  throughout  the  climatic  range  of  their 
respective  species  or  groups.  Such  testing  should,  of  course,  be  done 
in  a  small  way  rather  than  through  commercial  plantings,  particu- 
larly when  the  test  is  to  be  made  in  a  locality  where  conditions  differ 
widely  from  those  to  which  the  sort  is  known  to  be  adapted.  With 
the  tree  fruits  a  few  buds  or  scions  of  the  new  variety  afford  a  suffi- 
cient start  to  quickly  determine  its  probable  value  for  planting, 
while  with  the  small  fruits  a  few  plants  or  cuttings  are  sufficient,  if 
so  handled  that  they  can  be  fully  contrasted  with  the  proved  stand- 
ard varieties  of  the  section.  Half  a  dozen  trees  reserved  for  use  as 
stock  trees  upon  which  to  top- work  new  sorts  afford  adequate  oppor- 
tunity for  such  experimentation  on  the  average  fruit  farm  if  used 
with  wise  discrimination.  The  results  obtained  from  such  an  ex- 
perimental plat  not  infrequently  point  the  way  toward  very  impor- 
tant varietal  readjustments  of  commercial  plantings  sooner  and 
more  accurately  than  can  be  done  in  any  other  way. 

425 


17  U 

426  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

One  purpose  of  this  article,  in  continuation  of  similar  ones  printed 
in  the  Yearbook  since  1901,  is  to  call  the  attention  of  fruit  growers 
generally  to  new  and  little-known  sorts  that  are  worthy  of  their 
attention,  and  to  encourage  the  testing  of  such  in  different  sections 
of  the  country.  The  Department  of  Agriculture  does  not  distribute 
these  varieties  for  experimentation  except  as  indicated. 

LOWRY   APPLE. 

SYNONYMS  :  Lowry  Seedling,  Dixie,  Mosby's  Best,  Mosby's  Best  Red  Winter. 

[PLATE  XXXIII.] 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Lowry  apple  stood  on  a  farm  owned  by 
Mr.  John  Lowry  (deceased),  3  miles  south  of  Afton,  Nelson  County, 
Va.  Though  the  variety  first  began  to  attract  attention  about  sixty 
years  ago,1  only  within  the  past  few  years  has  its  probable  commer- 
cial value  been  appreciated.  Even  at  the  present  time  its  planting 
is  chiefly  confined  to  the  Blue  Ridge  region  of  Virginia. 

It  appears  to  have  been  first  propagated  about  1880  1  by  Mr.  John 
Wright2  (deceased),  of  Avon,  Va.,  and  by  Mr.  W.  G.  Lobban,3  the 
latter  making  grafts  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  G.  W.  Lobban,  near  the 
"  John  Lowry  place."  It  was  known  locally  at  this  period  under 
the  name  Lowry,  or  Lowry  Seedling.  About  1890  Mr.  Wright  fur- 
nished scions  to  Mr.  Elisha  Robertson  (deceased),  who  operated  a 
nursery  at  .Yancey  Mills,  Albemarle  County,  Va.  Mr.  Robertson 
gave  it  the  name  Dixie  about  1895,  and  appears  to  have  been  the  first 
to  propagate  it  commercially.  After  Mr.  Robertson's  death  it  was 
propagated  by  Mr.  A.  F.  Mosby  (deceased),  proprietor  of  the  Rich- 
mond Commercial  Nurseries,  Richmond,  Va.,  and  by  him  named 
Mosby^s  Best*  More  recently  it  has  been  grown  in  several  other 
nurseries. 

The  original  tree  died  about  ten  years  ago,  having  become  weak- 
ened, it  is  said,  by  the  excessive  cutting  of  grafts  from  it.3 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  to  roundish  oblate,  sometimes  slightly  ribbed ;  size 
medium;  cavity  regular,  medium  in  size  and  depth,  with  gradual 
slope  and  russet  markings ;  stem  moderately  long,  fairly  stout ;  basin 
regular,  medium  to  large,  with  gradual  slope,  furrowed;  calyx  seg- 
ments small,  converging;  eye  large,  open;  surface  generally  smooth: 
color  yellow,  washed  with  mixed  red  and  splashed  and  brokenly 

1  Letter  from  W.  H.  Goodwin,  November  21,  1910. 

2  Letter  from  J.  T.  Critzer,  December  9,  1910  ;  •;*   „ 

3  Letter  from  S.  H.  Arnall,  December  24,  1910. 
*  Letter  from  W.  T.  Hood,  October  17,  1905. 


17. 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  427 

striped  with  rich  crimson;  dots  conspicuous,  yellow;  skin  medium 
thick,  tenacious;  flesh  yellowish,  rather  fine  grained,  breaking,  mod- 
erately juicy;  core  conical,  clasping,  of  medium  size,  nearly  closed; 
seeds  plump,  of  medium  size,  brown,  varying  from  few  to  many; 
flavor  mild  subacid,  pleasant;  quality  good  to  very  good.  Season 
from  December  to  February  in  the  Piedmont,  Blue  Ridge,  and  Val- 
ley regions  of  Virginia,  where  it  has  been  more  largely  grown  than 
elsewhere  and  where  it  is  highly  recommended  by  those  who  have 
most  experience  with  it. 

Though  milder  in  flavor  than  most  of  the  varieties  highly  prized 
for  dessert  use,  it  possesses  many  desirable  characteristics  and  is 
considered  worthy  of  testing  for  commercial  purposes  in  eastern 
apple  districts  from  Pennsylvania  southward.  The  tree  is  a  fairly 
thrifty  grower  and  good  bearer. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXIII  was  grown  in  1905 
by  Mr.  Hugh  Foster,  Afton,  Va.,  who  at  that  time  owned  the  farm 
on  which  the  variety  originated. 

KINNARD  APPLE. 

SYNONYMS:  Kinnard' s  Choice,  Kinnaird,  Kinnaird's  Choice. 
[PLATE  XXXIV.] 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  Kinnard  apple  has  long  been  in  cultivation  in  central  Ten- 
nessee, Virginia,  North  Carolina,  and  some  other  sections  of  the 
South.  While  therefore  not  entitled,  strictly  speaking,  to  considera- 
tion as  a  new  sort,  its  adaptability  to  a  much  wider  climatic  range 
has  recently  become  apparent. 

This  variety  originated  as  a  chance  seedling  in  Williamson  County, 
Tenn.,  on  a  farm  then  owned  by  Mr.  Claiborn  H.  Kinnard,  on  the 
headwaters  of  the  west  fork  of  the  Harpeth  River,  about  8  miles 
southeast  of  Franklin,  the  county  seat,  and  2J  or  3  miles  north  of 
what  is  known  as  the  Duck  River  Ridge.1 

The  date  of  origin  is  unknown,  save  that  it  was  some  time  prior  to 
1850.  The  original  tree  is  said  to  have  been  discovered  in  a  thicket 
and  to  have  been  in  fruit  when  it  was  first  found.2  The  variety  was 
apparently  first  propagated,  commercially,  early  in  the  fifties,  in  a 
local  nursery  operated  by  one  "  Judge "  George  Andrews,  and  it  is 
reported  to  have  been  named  KinnarcTs  Choice  by  him. 

The  earliest  published  description  appears  to  have  been  that  of 
Charles  Downing,  in  1872,3  who  described  it  as  KinnaircTs  Choice. 

1  Letter  dated  November  28,  1910,  from  Judge  H.  G.  Jefferson,  whose  father,  now  in  his 
ninetieth  year,  boarded  with  Claiborn  Kinnard  about  65  years  ago. 

2  Letters  from  Chas.  L.  Williams,  January  5  and  14,  1911. 

3  First  Appendix  to  "  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America,"  p.  18. 


428  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

The  original  tree  has  been  dead  some  18  or  20  years,  having  been 
blown  down  during  a  storm.  This  tree  was  some  35  feet  in  height 
and  its  trunk  was  about  2  feet  in  diameter. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  oblate,  ribbed;  size  medium  to  large;  cavity  regular,  large, 
usually  with  gradual  slope  and  russet  markings,  sometimes  lipped; 
stem  rather  short,  moderately  stout;  basin  usually  regular,  medium 
to  large  with  gradual  slope,  furrowed,  frequently  knobbed ;  calyx 
segments  small  to  medium,  converging;  eye  medium,  closed  or  par- 
tially open;  surface  smooth,  except  for  occasional  knobs  and  patches 
of  russet;  color  yellow,  overspread  with  red,  usually  indistinctly 
striped  with  dark  crimson;  dots  numerous,  yellow,  russet,  some 
aureole;  skin  rather  thick,  tenacious;  flesh  yellow,  moderately  fine 
grained,  breaking,  juicy;  core  oval,  clasping,  small,  usually  closed, 
sometimes  partially  open;  seeds  numerous,  plump,  of  medium  size, 
brown;  flavor  subacid,  rich;  quality  good  to  very  good;  season 
from  fall  to  midwinter. 

The  Kinnard  apple  is  of  the  Winesap  group  and  is  adapted  to  the 
same  general  conditions  as  the  Winesap,  but  it  apparently  succeeds 
considerably  farther  south  than  that  popular  old  sort.  During  recent 
years  it  has  shown  special  adaptability  to  the  Piedmont  and  Blue 
Ridge  regions  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  the  South  Atlantic  States. 
In  the  mountainous  portions  of  northern  Georgia  it  develops  to  a 
very  high  degree  of  perfection.  While  it  has  been  highly  esteemed 
for  many  years  in  central  Tennessee  in  the  region  of  its  origin,  it  is 
also  succeeding  well  as  far  south  as  northern  Louisiana  and  northern 
Texas.  It  appears  worthy  of  testing  in  the  apple  districts  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  Pacific  coast  regions.  In  northwestern  Arkan- 
sas it  has  been  found  rather  susceptible  to  apple  scab — apparently 
more  so  than  most  varieties  grown  there — but  this  failing  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  reported  from  other  sections. 

The  tree  is  thrifty  and  fairly  vigorous,  but  a  rather  slender  grower 
with  brownish-red  bark  on  the  young  wood. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXIV  was  grown  by  Prof. 
C.  C.  Newman,  in  Rabun  County,  Ga. 

PAYNE   PEACH. 

SYNONYM  :  Highland  Beauty. 

[PLATE  XXXV.] 
ORIGIN. 

The  original  tree  of  this  variety  developed  in  1901  as  a  sprout  from 
the  stock  of  a  St.  John  peach  tree  broken  off  below  the  point  of  bud- 
ding in  the  orchard  of  E.  B.  Payne  &  Sons,  near  Cloverdale,  Barrj 
County,  Mich. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Depr  of  Agriculture.   1910. 


PLATE  XXXIII. 


LOWRY   APPLE. 


.QRlGMARO    &  COMPANY    N.Y. 


Yearbook  U   S    Dept   of  Agriculture.     1910 


PLATE  XXXIV. 


KINNARD   APPLE. 


.GRIGNARD    &  COMPANY    N.Y. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept   of  Agriculture.    1910. 


PLATE  XXXV. 


l 


P 


PAYNE    PEACH. 


A  GRlGNARD    &  COMPANY    N.Y. 


Yearbook  U   S.  Depr   oF  Agriculture.    1910. 


PLATE    XXXVI. 


HOOSIER    RASPBERRY. 


R1GNARD    &  COMPANY.  N.Y. 


a 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  429 

The  tree  that  developed  from  this  sprout  bore  its  first  crop  when  it 
was  3  years  old.  It  was  first  called  Highland  Beauty  in  corre- 
spondence and  when  exhibited,  but  it  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
described  under  that  name.  It  was  described  as  Payne  by  Fletcher 
in  1910.1 

It  was  first  propagated  in  1907  by  E.  B.  Payne  &  Sons  for  their 
own  planting. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish ;  size  large ;  cavity  regular,  of  medium  size  and  depth 
with  gradual  slope  and  red  markings;  stem  short,  stout;  suture  shal- 
low, extending  from  cavity  to  apex ;  apex  a  small  point  at  termination 
of  suture;  surface  soft,  velvety;  color  yellow,  blushed,  and  splashed 
with  dark  crimson ;  dots  minute ;  down  short,  loose ;  skin  thin,  tena- 
cious ;  flesh  yellow,  slightly  stained  at  stone ;  texture  melting,  tender, 
juicy;  stone  oval,  free,  medium  to  large;  flavor  subacid,  sprightly, 
slightly  astringent ;  quality  good  to  very  good ;  tree  vigorous,  spread- 
ing, productive ;  leaves  lanceolate,  of  medium  size,  with  rather  short, 
thick  petioles;  glands  reniform;  flowers  small.  Season  last  week  of 
August  and  early  September  in  the  locality  of  its  origin,  ripening 
about  a  week  in  advance  of  St.  John.  The  tree  is  productive  and  is 
considered  hardier  than  most  commercial  varieties  grown  in  that  sec- 
tion. 

This  variety,  though  not  yet  tested  in  other  than  its  original  local- 
ity, is  considered  promising  for  test  in  northern  peach-growing  dis- 
tricts. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXV  was  grown  by  E.  B. 
Payne  &  Sons,  Cloverdale,  Mich. 

HOOSIER    RASPBERRY. 
[PLATE  XXXVI.] 

EARLY   HISTORY. 

This  very  promising  blackcap  raspberry  originated  on  the  farm  of 
the  late  John  W.  Durm,  4  miles  east  of  Pekin,  Ind.,  about  1895,  as 
the  result  of  a  definite  effort  to  produce  a  variety  that  should  be  both 
very  hardy  and  resistant  to  anthracnose.  It  is  said  to  be  a  cross 
between  Gregg  and  Mammoth  Cluster. 

In  the  development  of  this  variety  Mr.  Durm  and  Mr.  Alvia  G. 
Gray  (also  of  Pekin,  Ind.)  have  been  closely  associated.  They  were 
mutually  interested  in  producing  hardy  and  disease-resistant  varieties 
and  from  time  to  time  planted  large  numbers  of  raspberry  seeds  with 

T  Varieties  of  Fruit  Originated  in  Michigan,  Special  Bulletin  No.  44,  Michigan  Agricul- 
tural College  Experiment  Station,  August,  1910. 


SO  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT  OF   AGRICULTURE. 

this  end  in  view.  The  seed  from  which  the  Hoosier  grew  was  planted 
by  Mr.  Durm  about  1895.  It  was  grown  jointly  by  himself  and  Mr. 
Gray  for  a  time  for  the  purpose  of  testing  it.  After  its  merits  had 
become  apparent  to  them  it  was  named  "Hoosier"  in  1898  by  Mr. 
Durm,  who,  shortly  before  his  death,  turned  it  over  to  Mr.  Gray  to 
propagate  for  introduction  and  dissemination. 

During  3  or  4  years  following  1898,  it  was  propagated  in  a  limited 
way  and  the  plants  sold  locally  until  1902,  when  it  was  offered  for  sale 
to  the  trade,  a  price  list  issued  that  year  by  Mr.  Gray  containing  the 
first  published  use  of  the  name  "  Hoosier  "  for  the  variety. 

It  has  thus  far  proved  free  from  disease,  vigorous,  productive,  and 
hardy,  bearing  good  crops  of  fruit  in  some  years  under  very  un- 
favorable climatic  conditions  and  when  most  other  varieties  in  com- 
parison failed. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Berries  roundish,  large  to  very  large  in  size,  borne  in  moder- 
ately loose  clusters  of  15  to  18  or  more  fruits  and  easily  detached 
from  the  rather  small  receptacles;  drupes  large,  glossy,  black  with  a 
durable  bluish  bloom;  pedicels  slender,  thorny;  calyx  small,  pale 
green;  flesh  dark-purplish  red,  meaty,  solid,  firm,  moderately  juicy; 
seeds  rather  large  and  hard;  flavor  subacid  with  pleasant  aroma; 
quality  good. 

The  bush  is  a  strong,  vigorous  grower  and  apparently  possesses  a 
rather  unusual  degree  of  hardiness.  It  is  considered  promising  for 
the  Middle  Western  States. 

The  cluster  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXVI  was  grown  by  A.  G. 
Gray,  Pekin,  Ind. 

DUGAT    ORANGE. 

[PLATE  XXXVII.] 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  original  Dugat  orange  tree  is  reported  to  have  come  as  one 
among  a  hundred  imported  from  Japan  about  the  year  1880  as 
Unshiu  (commonly  known  in  this  country  as  Satsuma)  by  Leonard 
Coates,  then  of  Napa,  Cal.  About  1882  Col.  W.  S.  Dugat  obtained 
two  of  these  orange  trees  from  Mr.  Coates's  nursery  and  planted  them 
on  his  place  in  Beeville,  Tex.  One  of  these  trees  died.  After  the 
other  one  (which  later  came  to  be  known  as  the  "  Dugat ")  had  been 
planted  for  several  years,  its  habit  of  growth  showed  such  striking 
peculiarities  as  to  indicate  that  it  was  distinct  from  other  sorts  known 
in  that  section.  Mr.  G.  Onderdonk,  of  Nursery,  Tex.,  became  inter- 
ested in  this  tree  because  of  its  evident  value  for  that  section  and  has 
been  largely  instrumental  in  directing  attention  to  it.1 

1  Letters  and  historical  notes  from  G.  Onderdonk,  October  18  and  December  13,   1904. 


PROMISING  NEW   FRUITS.  431 

The  dwarfish  habit  of  growth  of  the  tree  gave  the  impression  for 
several  years  that  it,  like  the  Unshiu  trees  imported  at  the  same  time, 
was  on  trifoliata  stock.  This  was  later  found  to  be  an  error,  although 
it  has  since  been  found  to  succeed  well  upon  that  stock.  Correspond- 
ence with  the  importer  and  other  efforts  to  identify  the  variety  hav- 
ing failed  to  establish  its  identity,  it  gradually  became  known  as  the 
Dugat.  It  appears  to  have  been  first  propagated  commercially  in  this 
country  about  1898  l  by  Mr.  K,  W.  Holbert.  Arcadia,  Tex.  Since  that 
time  it  has  been  considerably  disseminated  through  Texas  and  Florida 
nurseries. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish,  very  slightly  ribbed;  size  medium  to  large;  stem 
stout,  placed  in  a  small  wrinkled  cavity;  apex  slightly  flattened; 
surface  rather  rough;  oil  cells  large,  indented;  rind  tenacious, 
moderately  thick;  segments  commonly  12,  irregular,  rather  loose, 
leaving  an  open  center ;  seeds  plump,  variable  in  size,  color,  whitish ; 
flesh  yellowish  translucent,  tender;  juice  abundant,  translucent; 
flavor  sprightly  subacid  with  pleasant  bouquet;  quality  good.  Sea- 
son early,  about  the  first  of  December  in  southern  Texas.  The  crop 
is  more  uniform  in  size  than  Satsuma,  and  like  other  true  oranges  it 
keeps  better  than  the  Mandarin  varieties. 

The  tree  makes  a  dwarfish,  compact  growth  and  is  practically 
thornless.  For  some  time  it  was  thought  to  be  fully  as  hardy  as 
Satsuma,  but  the  experience  of  the  past  six  years  indicates  that  it  is 
injured  by  cold  sooner  than  the  Satsuma  on  the  trifoliata  stock  in 
Texas.  The  tree  appears  to  have  remarkable  recuperative  capacit}', 
however,  and  when  banked  to  protect  the  trunk  from  destruction  by 
frost,  quickly  renews  its  top.  Under  such  conditions  it  is  reported 
to  come  into  fruit  again  much  more  quickly  than  the  Satsuma.  It  is 
also  considered  a  more  regular  bearer  than  Satsuma.  Its  chief  value 
thus  far  indicated  is  for  the  Texas  coast  country,  where  it  is  being 
considerably  planted. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXYII  was  grown  by  Mrs. 
E.  M.  Dugat,  Beeville,  Tex. 

FAMILY  AVOCADO. 

[PLATE   XXXVIII.] 

ORIGIN. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Family  avocado  was  found  by  Prof.  P.  H. 
Rolfs,  now  director  of  the  Florida  Agricultural  Experiment  Station, 
on  a  place  at  Buena  Vista  near  Miami,  Fla.,  which  came  into  his 

1  Letter  from  G.  Onderdonk,  January  12,  1911. 


176 

432  YEARBOOK   OF   THE  DEPARTMENT  OF   AGRICULTURE. 

possession  in  1902.1  The  age  of  the  tree  at  that  time  is  uncertain, 
but  it  was  probably  5  or  6  years  old.  Its  previous  history  is  unknown. 

It  was  first  propagated  for  experimental  purposes  at  the  Sub- 
tropical Laboratory  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  at  Miami  in 
1904,  and  has  since  been  quite  widely  distributed  for  testing.  Later, 
bud  wood  was  furnished  to  a  number  of  nurserymen,  several  of  whom 
have  propagated  it  commercially.  The  name  "  Family  "  was  given 
it  about  the  time  that  it  was  first  propagated  in  1904. 

The  original  tree  has  failed  to  set  fruit  in  but  one  year  since  1902. 
It  has  the  rather  unusual  habit  of  ripening  its  fruit,  which  is  borne 
in  clusters,  over  a  period  of  8  to  10  weeks,  beginning  1  to  2  weeks 
later  than  the  earliest  varieties  and  continuing  until  the  first  fruits 
of  the  late  sorts  are  ripe,  or  even  later.  It  was  because  of  this 
peculiarity  that  the  name  "  Family  "  was  selected  for  it  by  Professor 
Eolfs,  it  being  well  adapted  to  the  supplying  of  fruit  for  family  use ; 
but  it  is  less  desirable  for  commercial  purposes  than  the  varieties  that 
ripen  their  fruit  more  uniformly. 

The  original  tree  is  still  standing  and  is  about  18  to  20  feet  high. 
It  is  now  rather  spreading  in  habit  of  groAvth ;  when  younger  it  was 
apparently  more  upright  in  growth,  with  branches  somewhat  inclined 
to  droop. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  obconical;  size  medium  to  large;  cavity  regular,  small,  shal- 
low, with  gradual  slope  and  furrowed;  stem  stout;  apex  furrowed, 
russeted ;  surface  undulating ;  color  yellowish  green,  marbled,  splashed 
and  striped  with  purplish  red;  dots  numerous,  yellow,  many  in- 
dented; skin  of  medium  thickness;  flesh  yellowish  green,  tender, 
buttery;  seed  roundish,  large;  flavor  mild,  pleasant;  quality  good  to 
very  good ;  season  rather  early  to  rather  late. 

This  variety  is  especially  valued  for  local  use  in  southern  Florida 
and  is  worthy  of  testing  in  California. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXVIII  was  grown  by  Prof. 
P.  H.  Rolfs  at  Miami,  Fla. 

CECIL  MANGO. 
[PLATE  XXXIX.] 
EARLY  HISTORY. 

The  interest  in  the  mango  in  Florida  has  now  continued  for  a 
sufficient  time  to  begin  to  bring  to  light  some  good  seedlings  grown 
from  seed  of  choice  imported  sorts.  Choice  new  varieties  may  now  be 
expected  to  appear  in  considerable  numbers  as  trees  in  seedling  or- 
chards come  into  bearing  sufficiently  to  demonstrate  their  distinctive 

1  Letter  from  P.  H.  Rolfs,  November  1,  1910. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Depf   of  Agriculture,    1910. 


PLATE  XXXIX. 


CECIL    MANGO. 


a  COMPANY.  N.Y. 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  433 

characteristics.  One  of  the  most  promising  thus  far  is  the  Cecil, 
which  originated  at  Miami,  Fla. 

In  1902  x  about  200  mango  fruits  of  the  "  Philippine "  type  were 
received  by  Mr.  S.  A.  Belcher  of  Miami,  Fla.,  from  some  point  in 
Cuba.  The  seeds  of  these  fruits  were  planted  in  pots  and  later  about 
100  trees  which  grew  therefrom  were  transplanted  to  permanent 
places  on  Mr.  Belcher's  homestead,  now  owned  by  Hickson  Brothers, 
2  miles  west  of  Miami. 

The  tree  to  which  later  the  name  "  Cecil "  was  given  bore  a  few 
fruits  for  the  first  time  when  it  was  5  years  of  age.  It  was  named  in 
the  spring  of  1908,  after  the  unusual  merits  of  the  fruit  had  become 
apparent,  the  name  having  been  first  published  in  a  local  paper. 
Its  commercial  propagation  was  begun  in  1910. 

The  tree  is  said  to  be  a  very  vigorous  grower,  symmetrical  in  form, 
and  a  heavy  bearer.  The  fruit  begins  to  ripen  at  Miami  about  the 
first  week  in  June. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong  reniform,  rather  slender;  size  large;  cavity  regular, 
small,  shallow,  slope  gradual;  stem  medium  slender,  fleshy  where  it 
joins  the  fruit ;  tip  an  inconspicuous  beak,  usually  about  half  an  inch 
from  the  longitudinal  apex  of  the  fruit ;  surface  nearly  smooth ;  color 
rich  greenish  or  golden  yellow,  marbled  lightly  with  brownish  yellow ; 
dots  numerous,  russet,  sometimes  subcutaneous,  green  or  gray ;  bloom 
whitish;  skin  medium  thick,  tenacious;  flesh  yellow,  tender,  juicy 
with  but  very  little  fiber;  seed  thin,  oblong,  large;  flavor  sweet  or 
mild  subacid,  rich,  aromatic,  pleasant;  quality  good  to  very  good; 
season  June  to  August  at  Miami,  Fla. 

Apparently  adapted  to  Florida  and  worthy  of  testing  in  Porto 
Rico  and  Hawaii. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XXXIX  was  grown  by  Hickson 
Brothers,  Miami,  Fla. 

TAMOPAN    PERSIMMON. 
[PLATE  XL. ] 

HISTORICAL    NOTES. 

The  introduction  of  the  Japanese  persimmon  into  the  United  States 
aroused -widespread  interest  throughout  the  country  on  account  of  the 
precocity  of  the  trees  and  the  large  size  and  great  beauty  of  the  fruit. 
For  many  years  large  importations  of  grafted  trees  from  Japan  were 
made  by  commercial  nurseries,  with  the  result  that  the  varieties 
obtainable  from  Japanese  nurseries  were  widely  tested  throughout 

1  Letters  from  Hickson  Brothers,  November  9  and  17,  1910. 


YEARBOOK   OF   THE  DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

the  country.  Much  disappointment  resulted  when  no  sort  was  found 
among  them  sufficiently  hardy  to  endure  the  winters  north  of  the  Gulf 
and  South  Atlantic  States,  except  in  specially  sheltered  locations. 
The  fruits  of  most  of  them  were  found  to  retain  their  astringent 
flavor  until  they  were  too  soft  to  ship  or  handle,  so  that  their  market 
value  was  considerably  impaired. 

Eather  indefinite  reports  continued  to  come  from  travelers  and 
missionaries  of  hardier  large-fruited  sorts  grown  in  the  interior  of 
China  that  were  superior  in  many  respects  to  the  Japanese  varieties. 

In  an  effort  to  obtain  stock  of  such  varieties,  Hon.  Charles  Denby, 
then  United  States  Minister  to  China,  at  the  request  of  the  Pomologist 
of  the  Department,  in  1894  and  again  in  1895,  procured  and  for- 
warded to  the  Department  scions  of  sorts  the  fruit  of  which  was  of 
high  repute  in  the  Peking  market.  The  scions  were  of  two  varieties, 
and  Mr.  Denby  reported  upon  them  at  the  time  as  follows :  * 

These  scions  were  procured  at  the  village  of  Niuchuang,  about  100  miles  west 
of  Peking.  They  were  brought  from  this  place  because  of  the  reputation  it  has 
for  persimmons,  being  much  resorted  to  by  the  Chinese  themselves  for  scions. 
The  trees  from  which  they  were  cut  grew  on  level  ground  at  the  foot  of  the  hills. 
The  soil  was  a  yellowish  loam,  and  the  crops  grown  in  the  vicinity  wore  Indian 
corn  and  tall  millet.  An  ordinary  specimen  of  the  Kao  Chuang  variety  exam- 
ined by  me  was  9  inches  in  circumference,  2^  inches  thick,  and  weighed  6  ounces. 
Such  fruit  is  sold  at  retail  in  Peking  in  immense  quantities  at  1  to  2  cash  each 
(5  to  10  for  1  cent  gold).  The  Mo  pan  variety  measured  12  inches  in  circumfer- 
ence, 2£  inches  thick,  and  weighed  llf  ounces.  This  retailed  at  3  to  5  cash  each 
(2  to  3  for  1  cent  gold). 

The  fruit  is  orange  yellow  in  color.  It  is  sweet  in  flavor,  recalling  the  taste 
of  the  American  persimmon  without  its  astringent  effect  It  is  eaten  raw.  It 
ripens  without  frost. 

Unfortunately  the  several  lots  of  scions  sent  at  that  time,  though 
packed  and  forwarded  with  great  care,  failed  to  survive  the  journey, 
arriving  too  dry  and  lifeless  to  propagate.  Persimmon  seeds  sent  by 
Minister  Denby  at  the  same  time  germinated  freely,  and  several  hun- 
dred trees  were  grown  from  them  for  distribution,  but  all  proved  to 
be  of  the  small-fruited  Diospyros  lotus,  which  is  used  in  the  Orient  as 
a  stock  for  the  more  highly  esteemed  varieties. 

After  this  unsuccessful  effort  no  systematic  attempt  to  obtain  the 
large  varieties  appears  to  have  been  made  until  1905,  when  Mr.  Frank 
N.  Meyer,  agricultural  explorer  in  the  Office  of  Foreign  Seed  and 
Plant  Introduction  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  sent  from  the 
Ming  Tombs  Valley,  west  of  Peking,  several  lots  of  scions  of  a  variety 
evidently  closely  similar  to,  if  not  identical  with,  the  "  Mo  pan  "  pre- 
viously obtained  by  Minister  Denby.  This  sort,  which  Mr.  Meyer 

1  Letter  of  Hon.  Charles  Denby  to  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  dated  Peking,  November  19, 
1895. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS.  435 

later  found  growing  in  several  localities  in  China,  he  states  is  known 
as  "  Ta  mo  pan  shi  tze,"  signifying  "  big  grindstone  persimmon,"  on 
account  of  its  large  size  and  peculiar  flattened  form.  Mr.  Meyer 
states : J 

The  fruit  of  this  particular  variety  has  a  bright  orange-red  color,  grows  to  a 
large  size,  measuring  3  to  5  inches  in  diameter,  and  sometimes  weighs  more 
than  a  pound.  It  is  perfectly  seedless,  is  not  astringent,  and  can  be  eaten  even 
when  green  and  hard.  It  stands  shipping  remarkably  well.  The  fruit  is  of  a 
peculiar  shape,  having  an  equatorial  constriction,  which  makes  it  look  as  if  two 
fruits  had  been  joined,  or,  to  use  a  more  terse  expression,  as  if  somebody  had 
sat  upon  it.  The  trees  are  very  thrifty  growers  when  once  thoroughly  estab- 
lished. They  reach  a  height  of  30  to  50  feet,  and  though  the  young  branches 
are  very  erect,  the  older  ones  bend  down  a  good  deal  because  of  the  great 
weight  of  the  fruit.  The  trees  seem  to  bear  very  heavy  crops  in  some  years, 
while  in  other  years  the  harvest  is  small.  A  drawback  of  a  large  crop  is 
that  the  great  weight  of  the  fruit  causes  the  large  limbs  to  snap  off  unless 
they  are  propped  or  tied  up.  This,  therefore,  has  to  be  done  regularly.  It 
seems  that  when  the  trees  of  this  variety  reach  the  age  of  40  or  50  years  they 
begin  to  decline  in  vigor;  still,  here  and  there  old  specimens  may  be  seen  that 
are  near  the  century  mark. 

These  large  persimmons  are  mostly  used  when  fresh.  Foreigners  in  China 
are  fond  of  eating  them  with  a  spoon^  and  after  being  kept  in  a  cool  place  for 
some  hours  the  fruit  is  very  refreshing.  They  can  be  eaten  while  still  hard, 
like  apples.  By  careful  handling  and  by  keeping  the  persimmons  at  a  low 
temperature  they  can  be  preserved  for  several  months.  To  keep  them  through 
the  winter  the  Chinese  pile  them  in  heaps,  let  them  freeze  thoroughly,  and 
keep  them  frozen  until  they  are  needed.  When  wanted,  they  are  simply  put 
into  a  vessel  with  cold  water  to  be  thawed  slowly,  and  then  they  are  as  good 
as  when  freshly  picked.  They  can  also  be  eaten  when  slightly  frozen,  like 
sherbet,  and  occasionally  they  are  quite  acceptable  in  that  condition. 

Scions  and  young  trees  of  this  variety  have  been  experimentally 
distributed  by  the  Office  of  Foreign  Seed  and  Plant  Introduction 
under  the  name  Tamopan  (S.  P.  I.  No.  16921),  and  the  variety  has 
been  sufficiently  fruited  to  indicate  its  high  promise.  The  fact  that 
the  fruit  loses  its  astringence  before  softening  gives  it  special  value, 
and  its  unique  form  constitutes  an  effective  identification  mark  by 
which  it  can  be  readily  recognized  in  market. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblate  to  roundish  oblate  with  a  conspicuous  equatorial  con- 
striction which  distinguishes  it  from  other  types;  size  large  to  very 
large;  cavity  regular,  large,  deep,  slope  gradual,  marked  with  four 
furrows  and  russeted;  stem  moderately  stout;  calyx  segments  of 
medium  size,  reflexed  around  stem;  apex  depressed,  terminating  in 

Agricultural  Explorations  in  the  Fruit  and  Nut  Orchards  of  China,  Bulletin  204,  Bureau 
of  Plant  Industry,  pp.  11-12. 


436  YEABBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT  OF   AGRICULTUEE. 

a  small  point  located  in  the  intersection  of  the  sutures  which  divide 
the  fruit  into  well-defined  quarters ;  surface  smooth ;  color  rich  yellow 
to  orange  yellow;  dots  very  minute;  skin  medium  thick,  tenacious, 
covered  with  transient,  whitish  bloom;  flesh  yellowish,  translucent; 
texture  very  tender,  melting,  juicy;  seeds  undeveloped  in  specimens 
examined;  flavor  sweet,  losing  astringence  before  softening;  quality 
very  good.  The  tree  is  a  strong,  vigorous  grower,  showing  good  evi- 
dence of  productiveness. 

The  fruiting  of  this  variety  in  America  has  thus  far  been  restricted 
to  North  Carolina  and  Florida.  Its  cold  endurance  is  therefore  not 
yet  determined,  but  it  is  considered  promising  for  experimental 
planting  in  the  territory  south  of  the  Potomac,  Ohio,  and  Missouri 
rivers  and  on  the  Pacific  coast.  Its  northern  source  in  China  sug- 
gests the  possibility  of  sufficient  hardiness  to  thrive  as  far  north  as 
our  native  persimmon  succeeds. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XL  was  grown  by  the  Glen  St. 
Mary  Nurseries  Co.,  Glen  St.  Mary,  Fla. 


Y.B.  Separate  581.' 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  and  Assistant  Chief, 


H.  P.  GOULD, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Fruit  District  Investigations, 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[FROM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1911.] 


50658°— 12 


182 


183 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Introduction 423 

Cornell  apple 423 

San  Jacinto  apple 425 

Shiawassee  apple _ 426 

Aver  pear 428 

Russell  peach 429 

Laire  plum 430 

Moncelt  pluin _ 432 

Panariti  grape 433 

Thomson  orange 436 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

PLATE  XLIX.  Cornell  apple 428 

L.  San  Jacinto  apple 428 

LI.  Shiawassee  apple 428 

LII.  Aver  pear 428 

LIII.  Russell  peach 428 

LIV.  Laire  and  Moncelt  plums 428 

LV.  Panariti  grape 428 

LVL  Thomson  orange 428 

in 


18 


1-8 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR,  Pomologist  and  Assistant  Chief,  and  H.  P.  GOULD, 
Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Fruit  District  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant 
Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

Since  fruit  culture  first  began  to  receive  serious  and  systematic 
attention  in  the  United  States  the  question  of  what  varieties  to  plant 
has  been  an  important  one  in  the  minds  of  fruit  growers  and  in  the 
deliberations  of  horticultural  and  pomological  societies. 

That  this  matter  will  continue  to  need  attention  for  many  years  to 
come  is  inevitable.  Fruit  culture  is  constantly  being  extended  into 
new  regions  where  new  conditions  or  combinations  of  conditions  of 
climate,  soil,  etc.,  exist;  new  marketing  facilities  are  developed;  and 
changes  in  the  market  demands  occur.  These  factors  influence  in  a 
marked  degree  the  selection  of  varieties  of  fruits  for  planting  by  the 
more  discriminating  and  farsighted  fruit  grower.  More  and  more 
are  varieties  being  planted  to  meet  particular  conditions  and  for 
special  rather  than  for  general  purposes. 

In  this  perpetual  effort  to  obtain  better  varieties  and  such  ones  as 
will  more  satisfactorily  meet  particular  needs,  sorts  that  have  long 
been  in  cultivation  but  which  have  remained  largely  in  obscurity 
sometimes  come  into  prominence  because  of  their  adaptability  for 
some  new  requirement.  Such  varieties  have  frequently  been  included 
in  the  series  of  articles  of  which  the  present  paper  is  a  continuation. 

The  varieties  described  in  this  article  have  been  selected  because 
of  the  value  which  they  are  believed  to  possess  in  the  further  devel- 
opment of  fruit  culture. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  has  no  stock  of  these  varieties 
available  for  distribution. 

CORNELL,  APPLE. 

SYNONYMS:  Cornell's  Fancy,  Cornell's  Favorite. 

[PLATE  XLTX.] 
EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  Cornell  apple,  strictly  speaking,  is  not  a  new  variety,  yet  it 
is  unknown  to  a  large  proportion  of  growers.  It  has  apparently 

4°3 


424  YEAKBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT  OF   AGRICULTURE. 

been  in  existence  for  100  years,  or  perhaps  longer.  What  appears 
to  be  an  authentic  account  of  its  origin,  published  in  1869,1  states 
that  "  The  Cornell's  Fancy  Apple  originated  some  sixty  or  seventy 
years  ago  on  the  farm  of  Gilliam  Cornell,  near  the  Street  road,  in 
Southampton  Township,  Bucks  County,  Pa." 

From  the  dates  mentioned  it  is  evident  that  this  variety  origi- 
nated in  the  last  part  of  the  eighteenth  or  the  first  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century. 

The  original  tree  appears  to  have  been  a  fence-row  seedling.  In 
its  early  years  it  attracted  considerable  local  attention,  and  many 
scions  of  it  were  distributed  in  adjoining  portions  of  Philadelphia 
and  Montgomery  Counties,  Pa.  The  first  published  description  of 
it  appears  to  have  been  that  of  Downing  in  1857.2 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  oblong  conic;  size  medium  to  large;  cavity  regular,  some- 
times slightly  irregular,  usually  large,  rather  deep,  slope  gradual, 
with  russet  markings;  stem  medium  to  long,  moderately  stout;  basin 
usually  regular,  of  medium  size  and  depth,  with  gradual  slope 
usually,  sometimes  furrowed  or  corrugated ;  calyx  segments  medium, 
converging;  eye  small  to  medium,  closed;  surface  smooth,  sometimes 
more  or  less  ribbed;  color  creamy  or  yellowish  white,  washed  with 
mixed  red,  striped  with  bright  crimson,  and  slightly  overspread  with 
gray ;  dots  usually  rather  large  and  conspicuous,  occasional^  minute, 
often  aureole,  grayish,  sometimes  brownish ;  skin  rather  thin,  usually 
tender;  flesh  yellowish  white,  fine  grained,  very  tender,  moderately 
juicy;  core  conical,  clasping,  medium  in  size,  slightly  open;  flavor 
mild  subacid,  pleasant;  quality  good  to  very  good.  Season  August 
in  middle  latitudes. 

The  tree  has  been  reported  to  lack  vigor  in  some  sections,  but 
apparently  in  regions  to  which  the  variety  is  well  adapted  it  makes 
a  good  growth  and  is  usually  productive.  The  fruit  should  not 
be  left  on  the  tree  too  long,  as  it  has  a  tendency  to  crack  and  be- 
come mealy  when  fully  ripe.  Though  it  has  become  quite  widely 
disseminated,  it  is  grown  only  in  very  limited  quantities  and  is 
largely  unknown  in  the  markets.  In  the  further  extension  of  early- 
apple  culture  it  is  believed  that  it  can  be  made  an  important  sort 
in  middle  latitudes. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XLIX  was  grown  by  Thomas 
O.  Duvall,  Burtonsville,  Montgomery  County,  Md. 

irThe  Gardener's  Monthly,  vol.  11,  1869,  p.  376. 

2Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America,  revised  edition,  1857,  p.  131. 


18V 


PROMISING   NEW    FRUITS.  425 

SAN   JACINTO   APPLE. 

SYNONYM  :  Mrs.  Bryan,  erroneously. 

[PLATE   L.] 
EABLY  HISTORY. 

The  San  Jacinto  apple  appears  to  have  first  come  to  light  in  the 
orchard  of  Dr.  A.  M.  Ragland,  of  Pilot  Point,  Dent  on  County,  Tex., 
under  the  following  circumstances : 

About  1881  or  1882  he  obtained  12  apple  trees  under  the  name 
"  Mrs.  Bryan  "  from  a  Georgia  nursery.1  When  these  trees  came 
into  bearing,  four  of  them  produced  fruit  which  was  entirely  distinct 
in  size,  color,  and  time  of  ripening  from  the  fruit  borne  by  the  other 
8  trees,  which  were  true  to  name.  After  several  years  of  fruiting. 
Dr.  Ragland  was  so  favorably  impressed  with  the  value  of  the  fruit 
from  these  four  trees  that  he  had  the  variety  propagated.  In  the  year 
1900  it  was  propagated  by  T.  Y.  Munson  &  Son  and  listed  for  sale  in 
a  catalogue  issued  in  1902  under  the  name  "Mrs.  Bryan,"  the  fact 
that  it  differed  from  the  variety  entitled  to  that  name  not  having  been 
established  at  that  time. 

Meanwhile  doubt  had  arisen  as  to  which  of  these  two  varieties  was 
the  true  "  Mrs.  Bryan."  Specimens  of  the  fruit  were  submitted  to  the 
proprietors  of  the  nursery  from  which  the  trees  came,  but  they  were 
unable  to  identify  them,  having  never  seen  a  variety  like  these  speci- 
mens so  far  as  they  knew.  Specimens  were  also  sent  to  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Bryan,  of  Dillon,  Dade  County,  Ga.,  on  whose  place  the  Mrs.  Bryan 
apple  originated.  She  did  not  recognize  the  variety,  but  was  positive 
that  it  was  not  the  "  Mrs.  Bryan." 

It  having  become  evident  that  the  identity  of  this  variety  was  en- 
tirety unknown  up  to  this  time  to  the  parties  who  were  chiefly  con- 
cerned and  in  view  of  the  apparent  value  of  the  variety  for  southern 
latitudes  and  the  interest  which  it  was  attracting  it  was  named  "  San 
Jacinto"2  by  Dr.  Ragland,  in  honor  of  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto, 
which  took  place  on  April  21,  1836,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  of 
that  name  and  which  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  Texas  as  an 
independent  republic. 

In  the  fall  of  1903  this  variety  was  listed  for  sale  under  its  present 
name  in  the  catalogue  of  the  Munson  Nurseries,  Denison,3  Tex.,  this 
being,  so  far  as  known,  the  first  publication  of  the  name. 

Since  the  fact  that  it  is  distinct  from  "  Mrs.  Bryan  "  became  evident 
some  8  or  10  years  ago,  its  history  has  received  more  or  less  con- 

1  Letter  from  Dr.  A.  M.  Ragland,  December,  1911. 

2  Letter  from  Mr.  T.  V.  Munson,  December,  1911  ;  also  letter  from  Dr.  A.  M.  Ragland, 
December,   1911. 

*  Letter  from  Mr.  T.  V.  Munson,  December,  1911. 


188 


426  YEARBOOK   OF    THE   DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

stant  consideration,  but  no -older  tree  of  the  same  variety  has  been 
discovered  to  which  the  four  trees  planted  in  Dr.  Ragland's  orchard 
about  30  years  ago  can  be  traced.  Apparently  all  of  the  trees  of  the 
variety  which  have  been  planted  since  it  began  to  attract  atten- 
tion some  10  or  12  years  ago  trace  directly  to  Dr.  Ragland's  orchard. 
It  is  now  propagated  under  the  name  "  San  Jacinto  "  by  a  considerable 
number  of  nurseries. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  to  oblong  oval ;  size  medium  to  large ;  cavity  irreg- 
ular, medium  in  size  and  depth,  slope  rather  abrupt  with  russet 
markings,  sometimes  lipped;  stem  of  medium  length,  fairly  stout; 
basin  regular,  medium  to  large,  slope  gradual,  more  or  less  furrowed ; 
calyx  segments  rather  long,  converging ;  eye  medium  to  large,  closed ; 
surface  smooth,  except  some  slight  ribbing;  color  yellowish  to  green- 
ish white,  washed  with  suffused  red  over  nearly  the  entire  surface, 
with  few  splashes  and  stripes  of  bright  crimson;  dots  numerous, 
sometimes  indented;  skin  medium  thick,  tenacious;  flesh  white  or 
yellowish,  sometimes  slightly  tinted;  texture  medium  fine,  breaking, 
juicy;  core  oval  or  conical,  clasping,  of  medium  size,  open;  flavor 
subacid,  pleasant;  quality  good  to  very  good.  Season  in  northern 
Texas  from  the  first  of  July  until  the  middle  of  August,  the  main 
portion  of  the  crop  following  the  Red  June  apple. 

The  tree  resembles  the  Red  June,  but  it  is  a  more  vigorous  grower 
than  that  variety.  It  begins  bearing  early  and  is  proving  produc- 
tive. The  fruit  is  also  quite  like  the  Red  June  type,  and  there  is 
some  reason  for  supposing  that  it  is  a  seedling  of  that  old  and  widely 
grown  southern  variety. 

It  seems  to  be  particularly  well  adapted  to  southern  latitudes, 
being  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  apples  of  its  season  in  northern 
Texas,  Oklahoma,  and  other  southern  and  southwestern  points. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  L  was  grown  by  Dr.  A.  M.  Rag- 
land,  Pilot  Point,  Denton  County,  Tex. 

SHIAWASSEE  APPLE. 

SYNONYMS  :  Shiawassee  Beauty,  Missoula. 

[PLATE  LI.] 
EABLY   HISTORY. 

Though  the  Shiawassee  apple  has  been  in  cultivation  for  60  years 
or  more,  it  is  grown  but  comparatively  little.  Its  early  history,  as 
given  by  the  late  T.  T.  Lyon,  is  as  follows : 

The  fruit  originated  from  the  pomace  of  a  lot  of  grafted  fruit  grown  in  a 
nursery  in  Gaines,  Genesee  County  [Mich.].  A  portion  of  the  trees  grown  from 
them  were  sold,  ungrafted,  to  Mr.  Beebe  Truesdell,  deceased,  who  planted  them 


189 


PKOMISING   NEW    FRUITS.  427 

in  Vernon,  Shiawassee  County.  Among  these  was  the  original  tree  of  this 
variety,  which  has  now  borne  full  and  regular  crops  for  more  than  10  years, 
with  the  exception  of  two  seasons,  when  the  crop  was  thinned  by  frost.1 

This  variety  belongs  to  the  Fameuse  group  of  apples,  as  does  the 
Mclntosh,2  and  is  commonly  supposed  to  be  a  seedling  of  Fameuse, 
which  was  a  well-known  variety  in  Michigan  at  the  time  when 
Shiawassee  originated. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblate,  sometimes  slightly  conical;  size  medium  to  large; 
cavity  broad,  deep,  rather  abrupt;  stem  of  medium  length,  moder- 
ately stout;  basin  regular,  large,  with  gradual  slope;  calyx  segments 
medium,  converging,  sometimes  reflexed  at  tip ;  eye  small  to  medium, 
open  or  partially  closed;  surface  smooth;  color  pale  yellow,  washed 
over  nearly  the  entire  surface  with  mixed  crimson  stripes  of  purplish 
red,  sometimes  thinly  overspread  with  gray;  dots  rather  scattered, 
usually  small,  sometimes  more  conspicuous,  grayish  or  yellowish 
in  color;  skin  moderately  thick,  fairly  tenacious,  sometimes  covered 
with  a  light  bloom;  flesh  white,  sometimes  very  lightly  tinted  with 
red.  fine  grained,  tender,  juicy;  core  conical  or  oblate  conic,  clasping, 
of  medium  size,  open ;  flavor  subacid,  aromatic ;  quality  very  good. 
Season  October  to  January. 

It  has  been  quite  widely  though  not  extensively  grown  throughout 
the  older  apple-producing  regions  of  the  Northern  States  and  also 
in  some  of  the  Canadian  Provinces.  The  tree  is  a  strong,  upright 
grower,  but  the  branches  become  more  or  less  drooping  as  it  attains 
age.  It  is  more  highly  esteemed  for  and  is  perhaps  better  adapted 
to  home  use  than  it  is  for  general  commercial  purposes,  but  its  high 
quality  and  attractive  appearance,  together  with  its  productiveness, 
make  it  a  variety  of  more  than  average  merit  for  northern  apple- 
growing  regions.  The  tree  is  considered  as  hardy  as  the  Fameuse, 
which  indicates  its  adaptability  to  all  but  the  colder  apple  regions, 
It  is  less  susceptible  to  apple  scab  than  the  Fameuse,  but  sometimes 
shows  a  tendency  to  rot  at  the  core. 

Attention  has  been  more  or  less  directed  to  the  Shiawassee  apple  in 
the  Bitter  Root  Valley  of  Montana  in  recent  years,  because  of  its 
apparent  usefulness  in  pollenizing  the  Mclntosh  apple,  the  latter 
being  a  leading  commercial  variety  in  that  region.  As  its  identity 
in  the  Bitter  Root  Valley,  however,  was  unknown  until  recently,  it 
has  been  locally  propagated  there  under  the  name  "  Missoula." 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  LI  was  grown  by  H.  C.  and 
M.  D.  Ward,  Pontiac,  Oakland  County,  Mich. 

1  Michigan  Farmer,   Nov.   12,   1859,  and  Hovey's  Magazine  of  Horticulture,   February, 
1860,  p.  64. 

2  For  illustration  and  description,  see  Yearbook,  U.   S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture  for  1901, 
p.  383. 

50658°— 12 2 


428  YEAKBOOK  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGKICULTURE. 

AYER  PEAR. 

[PLATK   LII.] 

EARLY  HISTORY. 

The  Ayer  pear  originated  about  30  years  ago,  as  a  chance  seedling 
which  came  up  in  a  vineyard  owned  by  Mr.  O.  H.  Ayer,  near  Sibley, 
Douglas  County,  Kans.  The  small  seedling  tree  had  made  a  growth 
of  only  two  or  three  leaves  when  discovered.  Mr.  Ayer  had  a  spade 
with  him  at  the  time  and  transplanted  it  at  once  to  a  point  just  out- 
side the  vineyard,  where  it  is  still  standing.1  It  was  much  neglected 
for  some  years  and  was  rather  late  in  coming  into  bearing,  not  fruit- 
ing until  it  was  about  10  years  old. 

The  tree  is  a  rather  slow,  upright  grower,  similar  to  the  Bartlett 
tree  in  form,  but  the  foliage  is  dark  colored  like  that  of  the  Seckel. 
The  owner  is  inclined  to  think  it  is  a  seedling  of  the  latter,  as 
a  tree  of  that  variety  stood  only  a  few  rods  distant  from  the  place 
where  the  original  tree  first  appeared.  His  assumption  is  that  some 
one  in  passing  through  the  vineyard  while  eating  a  Seckel  pear  from 
the  nearby  tree  of  that  variety  threw  the  core  on  the  ground,  and  that 
the  tree  in  question  grew  from  one  of  the  seeds  which  it  contained. 
It  has  been  propagated  to  a  very  limited  extent,  but  not  disseminated 
commercially. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  obovate;  size  medium;  cavity  irregular,  medium  to  large, 
depth  medium,  slope  rather  gradual,  marked  with  russet  folds  or 
wrinkles;  stem  of  medium  length,  moderately  stout;  basin  regular, 
medium  in  size  and  depth,  slope  gradual,  with  shallow  corrugations 
and  russet  markings;  calyx  segments  short,  sometimes  rather  fleshy, 
converging  or  slightly  reflexed ;  eye  medium,  open  or  partially  closed ; 
surface  somewhat  undulating,  moderately  smooth,  with  some  russeted 
areas;  color  light  greenish  or  pale  lemon  yellow,  frequently  with  a 
light-scarlet  blush  on  exposed  side;  dots  numerous,  minute,  russet; 
skin  thin;  flesh  whitish  or  yellowish  white,  fine  grained,  buttery, 
melting,  juicy;  core  oval,  clasping,  of  medium  size,  closed;  flavor 
mild  subacid,  rich ;  quality  very  good,  fairly  comparable  with  Seckel. 
Season  in  eastern  Kansas  the  last  of  July  and  early  August — two  or 
three  weeks  earlier  than  the  Bartlett. 

From  Mr.  Ayer's  observation  of  this  variety  he  is  inclined  to  think 
it  is  self -sterile.  Up  to  the  present  time  the  tree  has  shown  no 
tendency  to  blight,  its  rather  slow  habit  of  growth  favoring  it  in  this 
respect.  In  productiveness  it  is  said  to  be  about  equal  to  the  Bartlett. 

Though  the  range  of  adaptability  of  this  variety  has  not  been 
determined,  the  high  quality  of  the  fruit  and  the  degree  of  blight 

1  Letters  from  Mr.  O.  H.  Ayer,  November,  1911. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.  191 


PLATE  XLIX. 


CORNELL  APPLE 


Yearbook  U.S.  Dept   of  Agriculture.  191 


PLATE  L 


SAN  JACINTO  API^LE 


Yearbook  U.  S   Dept.  of  Agriculture.  1911. 


PLATE  LI. 


SHIAWASSEE  APPLE 


Yearoook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1911. 


PLATE  LI  I. 


AVER  PEAR 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture,  191 


PLATE  LIN. 


RUSSELL  PEACH 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture.  191 


PLATE  Liv 


LAIRE 


MONCELT 


LAIRE  AND  MONCELT  PLUMS 


Yearbook  U.   S.   Dept.  of  Agriculture,  191 


PLATE  LV. 


PANARITI  GRAPE 


la 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  429 

resistance  which  the  tree  has  shown  thus  far  suggest  the  probability 
of  its  possessing  considerable  merit  for  the  Middle  West. 

The  specimen  shown  in  Plate  LII  was  grown  by  Mr.  O.  H.  Aver. 
Sibley,  Douglas  County,  Kans. 

RUSSELL  PEACH. 

SYNONYM  :  Russell  No.  1. 

[PLATE   LIII.] 

In  the  development  of  new  peach  varieties  with  a  view  to  extending 
the  culture  of  this  fruit,  especially  in  middle  and  northern  latitudes, 
improvement  along  the  line  of  increased  hardiness  offers,  perhaps, 
a  wider  field  for  advancement  than  almost  any  other.  Any  variety 
which  possesses  merit  as  to  dessert  and  shipping  qualities,  productive- 
ness, etc.,  and  which  can  withstand  without  injury  unusually  low 
temperatures  in  winter  or  early  spring  is  likely  to  prove  an  important 
factor  in  the  peach  industry  as  soon  as  its  characteristics  become 
generally  known.  The  Russell  peach  appears  to  be  a  variety  which 
possesses  these  qualities  to  a  considerable  degree. 


EARLY   HISTORY. 


This  variety  originated  at  Wymore,  Gage  County,  Xebr.,  about  the 
year  1890,  in  an  experimental  seedling  orchard  belonging  to  J.  M. 
Kussell  &  Son,  who  at  that  time  had  a  peach  orchard  of  budded 
varieties  at  Wymore  consisting  of  65  acres. 

The  trees  in  the  seedling  orchard  were  produced  from  seeds  se- 
lected from  their  best  and  hardiest  varieties.  The  one  in  question 
grew  from  a  seed  of  the  Chili  (Hills  Chili)  peach.  Some  of  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  tree  and  fruit  are  similar  to  the  Alexander  peach, 
and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  a  tree  of  that  variety  stood  close  to  the 
Chili  tree  which  produced  the  seed  from  which  the  Russell  tree  de- 
veloped, there  is  some  reason  for  supposing  that  it  is  a  cross  between 
these  two  varieties. 

The  first  crop  of  fruit  borne  by  this  tree  was  in  1893,  when  it  pro- 
duced about  1  bushel. 

This  variety  was  originally  designated  as  "  Russell  Xo.  1,"  and 
under  this  name  it  was  briefly  described  by  Mr.  J.  M.  Russell  in 
1894.1  Later,  Messrs.  Russell  &  Son  developed  the  "  Russell  No.  2  " 
and  "Russell  Xo.  3,"  but  neither  of  these  was  disseminated  to  any 
extent.2  Under  the  name  "  Russell  "  it  was  described  in  the  report  of 
the  assistant  pomologist  in  1893.3  This  report,  however,  was  not 
published  until  some  time  during  the  year  1894. 

1  Annual  Report,  Nebraska  State  Horticultural  Society,  1894,  p.  116. 

2  Letter  from  J.  M.  Russell  &  Co.,  November,  1896. 

3  Report  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  1893,  p.  291. 


430  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish ;  size  medium  to  large ;  cavity  regular,  medium 
to  large,  deep,  gradual;  suture  shallow  except  at  cavity,  extending 
from  cavity  to  beyond  the  apex ;  apex  a  small  point  in  the  suture,  in 
a~slightly  depressed  basin ;  surface  soft,  velvety ;  color  creamy  white, 
blushed  and  splashed  with  crimson;  down  medium  short,  easily 
removed;  skin  thin,  tender;  flesh  greenish  white,  with  yellowish 
veins,  tinged  with  red  at  stone,  tender,  melting,  juicy;  stone  oval, 
free,  small ;  flavor  mild  subacid,  pleasant ;  quality  good  to  very  good ; 
tree  a  rapid  grower  and  an  early  and  prolific  bearer ;  glands  globose. 
Season  a  month  later  than  the  Alexander  peach,  or  about  the  middle 
of  August,  in  southeast  Nebraska. 

This  variety,  though  apparently  not  grown  extensively,  has  become 
quite  widely  distributed  in  Nebraska,  Iowa,  and  other  middle  western 
sections,  where  it  is  one  of  the  most  reliable  bearers.  It  has  proved 
to  be  one  of  the  hardiest  early  freestone  varieties,  both  in  tree  and 
bud,  having  endured  with  but  slight  injury  winter  temperatures 
which  seriously  damaged  most  other  varieties.1  The  fruit,  however, 
is  said  to  be  somewhat  susceptible  to  brown-rot. 

A  late  peach  ripening  in  October,  which  originated  at  Lincoln,  111., 
was  introduced  about  the  year  1894  under  the  name  "  Eussell "  and 
was  distributed  to  some  extent  by  a  nursery  located  at  that  place. 
This  variety  does  not  appear  to  have  become  widely  disseminated, 
and  so  far  as  known  the  name  "  Russell "  as  applied  to  this  particu- 
lar sort  has  been  published  only  in  the  catalogues  of  the  nursery 
company  which  disseminated  it.  That  variety  has  not  been  propa- 
gated by  this  company  since  1903.2 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  LIII  was  grown  by  Mr.  F.  O. 
Harrington,  Williamsburg,  Iowa  County,  Iowa. 

LAIRE  PLUM. 
[PLATE  LIV.] 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  Laire  plum  is  a  native  variety  which  has  gradually  assumed 
much  regional  importance  during  the  last  few  years.  A  recent 
investigation  of  the  botanical  status  of  this  plum  made  by  Mr. 
W.  F.  Wight,  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  indicates  that  it  is 
very  closely  related  to  Prunus  orthosepala  Koehne  and  may  prop- 
erly be  considered  a  form  of  that  species. 

1  Letter  from  Prof.  R.  F.  Howard,  Nebraska  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  Dec.  11, 
1911. 

2  Letter  from  Mr.  W.  E.  Jones,  December,  1911. 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS. 

The  Laire  plum  appears  to  have  been  brought  into  cultivation  in 
the  spring  of  18TG  l  by  Mr.  Abram  Laire,  living  near  Kirwin,  Phil- 
lips County,  Kans.,  and  for  whom  it  was  named.  It  began  fruiting 
two  years  after  being  brought  in  from  the  wild  state.  In  a  personal 
interview  with  Mr.  Laire  in  September,  1910,  he  informed  Mr.  Wight 
that  the  original  trees  were  obtained  about  1878  or  possibly  a  year 
or  two  later,  the  exact  date  apparently  not  being  a  matter  of  definite 
record.  Mr.  Laire,  with  his  son,  collected  a  number  of  young  plum 
trees  from  various  localities  along  Bow  Creek.  When  these  trees 
came  into  bearing  there  were  about  half  a  dozen  which  produced  fruit 
of  superior  merit.  The  fruit  of  these  trees  was  apparently  the  same, 
the  trees  probably  all  having  developed  as  suckers  from  a  single 
parent  tree.  This  variety  is  the  one  to  which  the  name  "  Laire  "  was 
subsequently  applied. 

The  thicket  from  which  these  trees  were  obtained  could  not  be  re- 
located after  they  fruited,  though  Mr.  Laire 's  son  is  inclined  to  think 
that  they  came  from  one  which  meanwhile  had  been  destroyed  by 
cuttle. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish;  size  medium  for  a  native  variety;  cavity  regular, 
small,  of  medium  depth,  with  gradual  slope;  stem  short,  very 
slender;  suture  very  shallow,  extending  from  cavity  to  apex;  apex  a 
small  russet  dot  in  a  small  basin  at  end  of  suture;  surface  smooth, 
glossy  under  bloom;  color  bright  crimson  yellow  to  dark  red;  dots 
numerous,  russet;  bloom  profuse;  skin  thick,  tenacious,  slightly 
astringent;  flesh  yellow  with  whitish  veins,  meaty,  juicy;  stone 
roundish,  cling,  medium  in  size;  flavor  mild  subacid,  rich;  quality 
good  to  very  good ;  season  September. 

The  Laire  plum  is  a  prolific  bearer  and  is  apparently  especially 
well  adapted  to  the  central  and  western  portions  of  Kansas  and  the 
corresponding  regions  of  adjacent  States.  It  was  estimated  in  1910 
by  Mr.  E.  Bartholomew  that  there  were  100,000  trees  of  this  plum 
growing  in  the  northern  central  portion  of  Kansas. 

That  a  fruit  variety  should  have  developed  to  so  great  a  degree 
of  importance  in  the  region  of  its  origin  and  remain  largely  un- 
known elsewhere  is  a  rather  remarkable  occurrence  in  the  recent 
annals  of  American  pomology ;  that  it  represents,  or  is  very  closely 
related  to,  a  species  not  recognized  heretofore  as  possessing  horti- 
cultural value  is  of  interest,  especially  to  those  who  are  concerned 
in  the  amelioration  of  our  native  plums. 

The  specimen  shown  in  Plate  LIV  was  furnished  by  Mr.  E.  Bar- 
tholomew, of  Stockton,  Rooks  County,  Kans. 

1  Letter  from  Mr.  E.  Bartholomew,  September,  1908. 


19* 


432  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

MONCEI/T  PLUM. 

[PLATE  LIV.] 
EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  Moncelt  plum  is  a  seedling  of  the  "  Red  Nagate,"  *  a  Japanese 
variety,  and  originated  about  12  years  ago  on  the  grounds  of  R. 
Bates,  Jackson,  Aiken  County,  S.  C.  He  considers2  it  a  hybrid 
between  "  Red  Nagate  "  and  "  Clyman,"  a  "  domestica  "  variety,  but 
the  botanical  characters  of  the  twigs  and  foliage,  and  of  the  fruit 
as  well,  appear  to  be  those  of  the  Japanese  plum  (Prunus  triflora). 

The  original  tree  began  bearing  when  4  years  old.  As  soon  as  its 
merits  were  apparent,  the  name  by  which  it  is  designated  was  await- 
ing it,  this  having  been  previously  selected  by  the  originator  to  apply 
to  the  most  promising  variety  in  a  lot  of  more  than  17,000  seedlings 
of  the  "  Red  Nagate  "  which  he  was  testing. 

The  name  Moncelt  was  first  published  in  a  small  catalogue  issued 
by  the  originator  in  March,  1911,  when  the  variety  was  commercially 
introduced. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  conical ;  size  large ;  cavity  regular,  large,  deep,  slope  gradual, 
marked  with  slight  furrows;  suture  of  medium  depth  at  cavity,  be- 
coming more  shallow  toward  and  extending  to  the  apex ;  apex  a  russet 
dot  at  end  of  suture;  surface  smooth  or  slightly  undulating,  some- 
times with  small  areas  of  russet;  color  yellow,  blushed  and  marbled 
over  nearly  entire  surface  with  dark  purplish  red ;  dots  very  numer- 
ous, very  small,  russet;  bloom  bluish  white;  skin  medium  thick,  tena- 
cious, slightly  bitter;  flesh  yellowish,  translucent,  meaty,  half  tender, 
juicy ;  stone  roundish  oval,  cling,  very  small ;  flavor  subacid,  pleasant  : 
quality  very  good.  Season  from  about  the  10th  of  June  to  the  end 
of  that  month,  in  the  locality  where  it  originated. 

The  tree  is  a  strong,  vigorous,  upright  grower^  with  rather  large 
rank  leaves.  It  is  said  to  compare  favorably  with  Abundance  and 
Burba-ilk  in  productiveness,  and  thus  far  it  has  been  remarkably  re- 
sistant to  brown-rot  and  is  said  to  suffer  only  to  a  limited  extent  from 
the  plum  curculio.  It  has  exceptionally  good  keeping  qualities  after 
being  picked  from  the  tree  and  is  regarded  as  a  good  shipping  variety. 

The  characteristics  of  this  variety,  both  in  tree  and  fruit,  appear 
to  indicate  that  it  is  of  special  promise  for  southern  latitudes.  It  is 

1  The   exact   identity   of   this   variety   is   uncertain.       Much    confusion    existed   in   the 
nomenclature  of  the  Japanese  plums  in  the  earlier  years  following  their  introduction  into 
this  country.      The  name  "  Red  Nagate  "  was  applied  to  several  different  varieties,  the 
most  important  of  which  is  the  one  now  known  as  Red  June.     Mr.  Bates's  tree,  while 
similar  in  some  respects,  is  said  by  him  to  be  clearly  distinct  from  Red  June. 

2  Letters  from  Mr.  R.  Bates,  October  and  November,  1911. 


i 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS. 

considered  worthy  of  thorough  test  by  those  interested  in  plum  groov- 
ing in  the  South. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  LIV  was  grown  by  the  originator 
at  Jackson,  Aiken  County,  S.  C. 

PANARITI  GRAPE. 
[PLATE    LV.] 

The  Panariti  grape  is  one  of  the  "  currant "  varieties,  the  fruit  of 
which  when  cured  constitutes  the  dried  "  currants "  of  commerce. 
Botanically  this  group  of  grapes  belongs  to  Vitis  vinifera,  as  do  the 
other  European  varieties.  They  are  largely  grown  in  Greece  and  on 
some  of  the  island  possessions  of  that  country,  including  Cephalonia 
and  Zante.  The  principal  districts  on  the  mainland  are  in  Morea, 
the  ancient  Peloponnesus.  In  these  island  and  mainland  districts 
nearly  the  entire  population  is  engaged  in  and  dependent  on  this 
industry. 

The  culture  of  these  grapes  in  Greece  has  extended  over  many 
centuries.  According  to  Eisen,1  Pliny  referred  to  them  as  early  as 
75  A.  D.  as  being  grown  there,  though  they  appear  to  have  no  further 
historical  record  for  nearly  a  thousand  years.  Following  the  eleventh 
century,  as  indicated  in  Eisen's  account,  occasional  reference  is  made 
to  them  in  the  old  herbals  and  in  other  literature  of  the  fourteenth, 
fifteenth,  and  sixteenth  centuries,  under  such  names  as  "  reysyns  de 
Corauntzs,"  "  Corauntz,"  "  corent,"  "  reysonys  of  Corawnce."  "  raysns 
of  Coren,"  and  "  currans."  By  gradual  evolution  the  name  "  cur- 
rant "  appears  to  have  developed  from  the  name  Corinth,  the  port 
whence  the  earlier  supplies  of  this  fruit  reached  western  Europe. 
It  appears  evident  that  the  name  "  currant "  or  "  currantes  "  was 
applied  to  this  type  of  grape,  at  least  when  dried,  as  early  as  1578. 

The  common  garden  currants  (Ribes  species)  do  not  appear  to  have 
come  into  cultivation  until  toward  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century. 
So  far  as  historical  records  show,  the  dried  fruit  of  the  "  currant " 
grape  had  then  been  an  article  of  commerce  in  some  of  the  European 
markets  for  several  centuries,  so  that  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  to 
doubt  that  the  name  currant  was  applied  to  the  genus  Eibes  because 
of  the  r'esemblance  which  its  racemes  of  fruit  bore  to  clusters  of  the 
"  grape  of  Corinth." 

The  importance  of  the  currant  grape  not  only  to  very  large  num- 
bers of  the  peasant  population  of  Greece,  but  to  the  Government  as 
well,  forms  an  example  which  is  probably  without  parallel  elsewhere 
in  the  world.  The  part  taken  by  the  Government  in  recent  years  in 
maintaining  the  stability  of  this  industry  through  control  of  a  portion 
of  the  crop  is  equally  remarkable, 

1  Eisen,  Gustav.     The  Raisin  Industry,  1890,  p.  6. 
20139°— YBK  1911 28 


YEARBOOK    OF    THE   DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Following  the  destruction  of  the  vineyards  in  France  by  the  phyl- 
loxera, about  1880  to  1890,  there  developed  in  that  country  a  heavy 
demand  for  the  dried  currants  of  Greece  for  use  in  making  wines, 
brandies,  etc.  This  resulted  in  high  prices  for  the  fruit  and,  conse- 
quently, a  very  large  increase  in  the  acreage  devoted  to  grape  culture 
in  Greece.  In  fact,  it  is  stated1  that  the  desire  to  extend  currant- 
grape  culture  became  so  great  in  many  instances  that  large  orchards 
of  mature  olive  trees  were  sacrificed  to  this  end,  as  well  as  many 
mulberry  trees  that  had  been  grown  to  furnish  food  for  silkworms. 
Thus,  in  some  regions  grape  culture  became  the  sole  industry. 

The  introduction  into  France  of  grape  stocks  from  the  United 
States  which  were  resistant  to  phylloxera  and  the  rehabilitation  of 
the  grape  industry,  followed  by  the  imposing  in  1896  of  import  taxes 
which  practically  excluded  the  currant  grapes  of  Greece  from  France, 
caused  a  great  crisis  in  this  industry  in  Greece.  Large  regions  were 
dependent  upon  grape  culture  as  a  means  of  support.  With  the 
French  markets,  which  had  previously  taken  great  quantities  of 
currants,  virtually  closed,  the  production  was  far  in  excess  of  the 
demand. 

At  this  juncture  the  Greek  Parliament  passed,  in  1895,  the  "  para- 
kratesis"  or  "retention"  act,  the  object  of  which  was  to  so  control 
the  output  of  currants  each  year  as  to  prevent,  so  far  as  possible,  over- 
stocking the  markets,  and  thus  to  maintain  satisfactory  prices. 

In  its  operation  this  law  imposes  upon  every  producer  a  tax  of  15 
per  cent  of  the  product  which  he  exports,  payable  either  in  money  or 
by  depositing  in  Government  warehouses  the  required  quantity  of 
currants.  Thus,  only  85  per  cent  of  the  crop  of  any  one  year,  or  its 
equivalent  in  value  so  far  as  the  producer  is  concerned,  can  be  put 
upon  the  market.  The  currants  received  by  the  Government  must  be 
used  for  other  purposes  than  those  to  which  this  commodity  is 
usually  put. 

In  connection  with  the  passing  of  the  "  retention  act "  the  matter 
of  establishing  a  "currant  bank"  of  Greece  was  much  agitated,  the 
object  in  viewT  being  to  provide  a  source  from  which  every  producer 
who  deposits  a  certain  quantity  of  currants  in  a  Government  depot 
or  warehouse  should  be  entitled  to  draw  money  from  the  bank,  or 
to  hypothecate  his  crop.  Such  a  bank,  however,  was  not  established 
until  1899,  when  with  the  Government  proceeds  from  the  sale  of 
currants  to  distillers,  etc.,  it  was  formed  with  a  capital  of  3,500,000 
drachmas  (about  $675,500). 

The  currant  has  long  been  the  leading  commodity  of  export  from 
Greece.  The  tax  of  15  per  cent  of  the  crop  exported  forms  one  of 
the  principal  sources  of  revenue  for  the  Government ;  at  the  same 

1  Horton,  George.  The  Currant  Trade  of  Greece.  United  States  Consular  Reports,  vol. 
50,  pp.  243-245. 


PROMISING   NEW    FRUITS. 

time  the  diverting  of  that  proportion  of  the  crop  each  year  from  the 
ordinary  channels  of  commerce  doubtless  has,  in  some  seasons  at  least, 
a  material  effect  upon  the  market  price  received  for  the  exported 
product. 

Currant  grapes  were  apparently  introduced  into  some  of  the  Vinif- 
era  districts  of  California  as  early  as  1861, l  but  they  have  not  yet 
attained  commercial  importance  there.  Imports  into  the  United 
States  in  1910  totaled  more  than  33,000,000  pounds  of  currants, 
having  an  approximate  value  of  $1,178,750.  The  imports  of  cur- 
rants during  that  year  from  all  other,  countries  were  less  than  250,000 
pounds.2 

EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  PANARITI  GRAPE  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  history  of  the  Panariti  grape  in  the  United  States  dates  from 
the  receipt  from  Panariti,  Greece,  through  Mr.  David  Fairchild, 
agricultural  explorer  of  this  department,  of  a  shipment  of  cuttings 
which  reached  Washington  May  9,  1901.  Concerning  this  grape  Mr. 
Fairchild  states:3 

The  variety  of  grapes  producing  the  currants  or  corinths  of  commerce. 
These  cuttings  were  purchased  in  the  village  of  Panariti,  which  lies  among  the 
mountains  back  of  Xyloncastron.  This  village  is  noted  for  producing  some  of 
the  finest  corinths  in  Greece. 

Several  varieties  of  currant  grapes  are  grown  in  Greece,  though 
the  crop  differences  are  not  distinguished  in  that  country  by  varietal 
names,  but  by  the  name  of  the  regions  in  which  they  are  produced ; 
thus,  Panariti  grapes  are  grapes  grown  in  the  vicinity  of  the  village 
of  Panariti. 

Soon  after  the  importation  of  cuttings  was  received  at  the  depart- 
ment they  were  distributed  among  grape  growers  in  representative 
Vinifera  grape-growing  districts  in  California,  Arizona,  and  south- 
ern Nevada.  More  recently  the  variety  has  been  more  widely  dis- 
seminated in  connection  with  the  viticultural  investigations  of  the 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industrv. 


Bunch  very  long,  almost  cylindrical  but  tapering,  with  quite  an 
enlargement  toward  end  of  bunch,  often  shouldered,  straggling,  loose ; 
stem  1 J  to  2  inches  long,  of  medium  size,  soft  and  fleshy ;  berry  round, 
very  small,  not  averaging  much  over  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  diam- 
eter; surface  smooth;  color  amber  with  whitish  bloom;  skin  rather 

1  Eisen,  Gustav.     The  Raisin  Industry,  1890,  p.  38. 

2  Bulletin  90,  Bureau  of  Statistics,   entitled   "  Imports  of  Farm  and   Forest  Products, 
1908-1910,"  p.  42. 

3  Bulletin  66,  Bureau  cf  Plant  Industry,  entitled  "  Seeds  and  Plants  Imported  during 
the  Period  from  September,  1900,  to  December,  1903,  Inventory  No.  10."  p.  84,  Xo.  6429. 

*  Description  furnished  by  Mr.  George  C.  Husmann,  Pomologist  in  Charge  of  ViticultnraT 
Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


436  YEAKBOOK   OF    THE   DEPARTMENT   OF    AGRICULTURE. 

thin ;  flesh  white,  soft,  fairly  juicy ;  flavor  sweet  with  the  character- 
istic flavor  strongly  developed.  Season  early  August  at  Fresno.  Its 
chief  value  will  doubtless  be  for  drying.  Wood  light  brownish  green, 
somewhat  striped,  with  internodes  3  to  4  inches  in  length;  rather 
slender.  In  the  first  crop,  which  is  the  only  one  of  real  value,  the 
berries  are  seedless,  but  the  second  and  third  crop  grapes  contain 
some  seeds. 

The  question  of  the  most  suitable  resistant  stocks  for  this  grape, 
as  well  as  the  methods  of  pruning,  training,  and  other  cultural  oper- 
ations, is  being  investigated  at  the  cooperative  experiment  vineyard 
maintained  by  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  at  Fresno,  Cal.  Indica- 
tions at  present  suggest  that  the  matter  of  stocks  may  be  of  much 
importance. 

Cultural  methods  also  call  for  careful  consideration  in  any  de- 
velopment of  the  currant  industry  that  may  occur  in  this  country. 
For  instance,  in  Greece  it  is  a  common  though  not  universal  prac- 
tice to  girdle  the  vines  to  increase  productiveness.  It  is  understood 
that  in  Australia  girdling  is  the  usual  practice,  as  light  crops  are 
habitual  unless  this  is  done.  Whether  this  method  or  some  modified 
form  of  it  can  be  effectively  or  advantageously  adopted  in  this  country 
is  as  yet  undetermined. 

The  adaptability  of  this  variety  to  successful  culture,  in  at  least 
some  of  the  Vinifera  grape  districts  of  California,  appears  to  have 
been  demonstrated.  Some  of  the  grape  growers  are  already  becom- 
ing interested  in  it  and  it  seems  probable  that  in  the  near  future  the 
production  of  it  will  become  of  considerable  commercial  importance 
in  the  Vinifera  grape  districts  in  this  country. 

Ripening  early,  as  it  does,  before  most  other  varieties  mature,  the 
fruit  can  be  handled  advantageously  with  the  same  vineyard  crews 
that  are  required  later  for  harvesting  the  wine  and  table  grapes.  As 
the  ripening  time  in  California  is  during  the  rainless  period,  when 
the  climatic  conditions  are  the  most  favorable  for  drying  fhe  fruit, 
there  is  everything  to  encourage  its  planting  by  those  desirous  of 
producing  currants. 

The  cluster  illustrated  in  Plate  LV  was  grown  at  the  cooperative 
experiment  vineyard,  Fresno,  Fresno  County,  Cal. 

THOMSON    ORANGE. 

SYNONYMS:  Thomson's  Navel,  Thomson's  Improved  Navel,  Thompson,  Thomp- 
son Improved,  Thompson's  Improved  NaveL 

[PLATE  LVI.] 

One  of  the  remarkable  features  of  the  orange  industry  of  Califor- 
nia is  the  fact  that  it  has  been  built  up  so  largely  on  a  single  variety, 
the  Washington  Navel *  or  "  Bahia,"  which  was  introduced  into  that 

1  For  a  concise  history  of  this  variety,  see  Bulletin  123,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  enti- 
tled "  The  Decay  of  Oranges  while  in  Transit  from  California,"  p.  0. 


PROMISING   NEW    FRUITS. 


437 


State  from  Brazil  by  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture 
less  than  40  years  ago.  The  shipments  of  oranges  from  California 
for  the  crop  year  1910-11  amounted  approximately  to  39,500  cars. 
Of  these  three-fourths  are  estimated  to  have  been  of  the  Washington 
Xavel  variety. 

In  view  of  the  large  production  of  this  variety  and  the  high  esteem 
in  which  it  has  been  held  for  30  years  or  more,  it  appears  strange 
that  no  seedlings  of  it  have  yet  attained  the  distinction  of  commer- 
cial introduction  in  our  orange  districts.  This  is  doubtless  in  large 
part  due  to  the  rarity  of  seeds  in  its  fruit  when  grown  under  ordinary 
orchard  conditions.  In  recent  years  there  have  appeared  in  the  Cali- 
fornia orange  districts  several  well-authenticated  bud  sports  or 
variations,  one  or  two  of  which  have  been  planted  commercially  to 
some  extent,  the  Golden  Buckeye  being  an  example. 

Of  less  certain  origin  but  more  important  commercially  than  the 
above-named  variety  is  the  Thomson,  which  was  disseminated  by  the 
late  A.  C.  Thomson,  of  Duarte,  Los  Angeles  County,  Cal.,  about 
1891.1  The  published  accounts  of  the  origin  of  the  variety  are 
conflicting.  The  first  statement2  was  to  the  effect  that  it  was  an 
improvement  on  the  Washington  Xavel  accomplished  by  budding 
that  variety  on  a  St.  Michael  stock,  then  budding  from  this  tree  on  a 
Mediterranean  Sweet  stock,  thus  securing  the  cumulative  effect  of 
the  two  stocks  upon  the  Washington  Xavel.  The  statement  was  re- 
ceived with  much  incredulity  by  the  horticultural  public  and  three 
years  later  the  introducer  published  in  the  Pacific  Rural  Press3  an 
account  in  which  it  was  implied  that  the  variety  was  produced  by 
;;  split-bud  "  propagation  but  without  details  as  to  what  varieties  had 
been  used  as  the  parents.  At  the  same  time  he  submitted  to  the  editor 
specimen  buds  prepared  to  illustrate  the  method  which  he  had 
described. 

The  inadequacy  of  the  evidence  submitted  and  the  well-known 
tendency  of  the  Washington  Xavel  orange  to  produce  bud  sports  has 
resulted  in  a  firm  conviction  in  the  minds  of  many  orange  growers 
that  the  Thomson  in  fact  originated  as  a  bud  sport  rather  than 
through  any  special  process  or  expert  manipulation  of  buds. 

The  exceptional  beauty  and  attractiveness  of  the  fruit  aroused 
much  interest  among  growers,  which  was  accentuated  by  the  award 
of  a  first  premium  to  the  variety  when  it  was  exhibited  at  the 
Columbian  Exposition  in  Chicago  in  1893.  Considerable  plantings 
of  it  are  now  found  throughout  southern  California  and  some  in 
\  other  orange-growing  sections.  As  a  dessert  fruit  it  is  not  equal  to 
the  parent  variety,  lacking  in  juiciness  and  sprightliness  of  flavor. 

1  California  Fruit  Grower  and  Fruit  Trade  Review,  vol.  8,  No. '14,  Apr.  4,  1891,  p.  211, 
and  No.  19,  May  9,  1891,  p.  290. 

2Azusa  Pomotropic.  Mar.  19.  1S91.  p.  7. 

3  Pacific  Rural  Press,  vol.  47,  no.  23,  June  9,  1894,  p.  433. 


438  YEARBOOK   OF    THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  slightly  oblong;  size  above  medium  to  large;  cavity  small, 
furrowed;  apex,  navel  markings  either  small  or  quite  prominent; 
surface  smooth  or  slightly  undulating;  sometimes  very  shallow, 
longitudinal  furrows;  stem  slender;  color  pale  orange  yellow,  red- 
dening somewhat  after  picking,  but  usually  not  as  richly  colored  as 
the  Washington  Navel;  oil  cells  numerous,  small,  indented  or  even 
with  surface ;  rind  relatively  smooth,  rather  closely  adherent,  usually 
thin  and  rather  tender ;  segments  10  to  12,  irregular  in  size  with  open 
center;  flesh,  rich  yellow  to  deep  orange  in  color,  translucent,  moder- 
ately tender;  cells  small,  regular,  enveloping  tissue  thin;  juice  trans- 
lucent, not  very  abundant;  seedless;  flavor  sweet,  sprightly,  pleasant; 
quality  good,  but  not  equal  to  the  Washington  Navel  when  the  latter 
is  well  grown.  Its  shipping  season  is  about  the  same  as  that  of  the 
Washington  Navel,  but  it  reaches  full  maturity  about  one  month 
earlier  than  that  variety.  The  satiny  surface  and  bright  color  give 
the  variety  special  popularity  for  certain  trade  in  the  large  cities, 
where  appearance  rather  than  quality  determines  demand  and  value. 
The  tree  characteristics  of  the  Thomson  are  quite  similar  to  the 
Washington  Navel.  It  is  reported  by  Shamel *  to  be  quite  subject  to 
"  sporting,"  numerous  branches  on  Thomson  trees  yielding  fairly 
typical  Washington  Navel  fruits.  It  is  reported  to  succeed  wrell  in 
Arizona  and  has  recently  been  reported2  as  doing  well  in  Algeria 
under  conditions  to  which  the  Washington  Navel  orange  does  not 
appear  to  be  well  adapted. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  LVI  was  grown  at  Riverside,  CaL 


1  Letter  from  Mr.  A.  D.  Shamel,  February,  1912. 

2  Letter  from  Mr.  Walter  T.  Swingle,  December,  1911. 


Y.  B.  Separate  .589. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 


BY 

WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Pomologist  and  Chief % 
AND 

H.  P.  GOULD, 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Fruit  District  Investigations, 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[FBOM  YEARBOOK  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1912.] 


97563—13 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  !  1913 


202 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Introduction ". 261 

Eastman  apple 262 

Monocacy  apple 263 

Summer  King  apple 266 

Douglas  pear 267 

Chesapeake  strawberry 269 

Ormond  persimmon 270 

Pollock  avocado 272 

Pecans...  273 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

PLATE  I.  Eastman  apple - 268 

II.  Monc-cacy  apple 268 

III .  Summer  King  apple 268 

IV.  Douglas  pear 268 

V.  Chesapeake  strawberry 268 

VI.  Ormond  persimmon 268 

VII.  Pollock  avocado 268 

VIII.  Major,  Burkett,  Warrick,  Havens,  and  Owens  pecans 268 


20 


• 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR,  Pomologist  and  Chief,  and  H.  P.  GOULD,  Pomologist  in 
Charge  of  Fruit  District  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

This  paper  is  the  twelfth  in  a  series  which  was  begun  in  the  Year- 
book for  1901.  The  primary  object  throughout  the  series  has  been  to 
discuss  fruit  varieties  that  are  little  known  among  fruit  growers, 
but  which  are  believed  to  possess  qualities  that  make  them  inherently 
valuable  in  their  places  of  origin  and  worthy  of  testing  elsewhere. 

The  "  variety  problem  "  is  one  that  is  ever  before  the  grower  who 
views  the  fruit  industry  either  from  the  standpoint  of  the  student 
or  that  of  the  business»man.  In  the  last  analysis  commercial  fruit 
growing,  to  be  permanently  successful,  must  be  considered  from  both 
of  these  standpoints.  In  one  form  or  another  the  variety  question 
has  long  been  prominent  in  the  minds  of  those  interested  in  the 
production  of  fruit  in  the  United  States  and  Canada.  Reference  to 
the  earlier  proceedings  of  the  American  Pomological  Society  dis- 
closes the  fact  that  for  many  years  its  meetings  were  devoted  largely 
to  discussion  of  the  relative  merit  of  different  varieties  for  the 
various  sections  of  *the  country.  The  "  fruit  lists "  of  varieties 
recommended  for  planting  which  resulted  from  these  discussions  and 
the  work  of  committees  appointed  to  give  the  matter  more  sys- 
tematic consideration  have  been  a  potent  influence  for  good  in  the 
development  of  the  fruit  industry  of  the  country. 

As  the  business  aspects  of  fruit  growing  receive  more  definite 
recognition  varieties  will  be  planted  more  and  more  to  meet  par- 
ticular conditions  and  for  special  rather  than  for  general  purposes. 
For  instance,  under  present  conditions  one  of  the  most  important 
requirements  of  a  winter  apple  in  many  sections  is  that  it  have  good 
cold-storage  qualities,  and  a  variety  may  be  selected  for  commercial 
planting  or  discarded  on  account  of  its  behavior  in  this  one  par- 
ticular. Again,  summer  apples  were,  for  a  considerable  period,  a 
very  minor  consideration  commercially,  but  within  the  past  10  or  15 
years  there  has  developed  an  important  demand  in  the  eastern 
markets  for  this  class  of  fruit.  This  has  greatly  stimulated  the 
planting  of  early  apple  varieties  in  many  sections  where  formerly 
they  were  little  valued. 

261 


YEARBOOK   OF    THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

Such  changes  in  conditions  as  have  been  mentioned  necessarily 
have  an  important  bearing  on  the  question  of  varieties,  and  their 
influence  must  continue  until  the  attainable  degree  of  perfection  in 
varieties  to  meet  the  more  important  demands  is  reached.  More- 
over, in  the  case  of  such  fruits  as  the  avocado,  the  mango,  and  some 
others,  the  commercial  culture  of  which  is  comparatively  new,  there 
are  as  yet  but  few  varieties  in  cultivation  in  this  country.  As  the 
market  demand  for  these  newer  fruits  increases  and  their  culture 
becomes  of  greater  commercial  importance,  new  and  better  varieties 
or  varieties  better  adapted  to  commercial  needs  will  in  all  probability 
be  developed. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  has  no  stock  for  dissemination  of 
any  of  the  varieties  referred  to  in  this  paper. 

EASTMAN   APPLE. 

SYNONYMS  :  Fameuse  Seedling,  Fameuse  No.  1,  Patten's  Fameuse. 

[PLATE    I.] 

EARLY   HISTORY. 

• 

The  pioneer  attempts  at  fruit  growing  in  northern  Iowa  early 
demonstrated  that  the  varieties  with  which  the  early  settlers  were 
familiar  in  their  old  homes  in  the  East  were  not  hardy  enough  to 
withstand  the  dry,  cold  winters  characteristic  of  a  large  portion  of 
the  upper  Mississippi  Valley. 

The  Eastman  apple  is  of  interest  in  pomology  not  only  because  of 
its  merit  as  a  variety,  but  because  it  is  one  of  the  results  of  a  defi- 
nitely planned  effort  to  develop  varieties  adapted  to  the  peculiar 
needs  of  this  region.  It  originated  at  Charles  City,  Iowa,  from  a 
seed  of  a  Fameuse  apple  which  was  planted  in  the  spring  of  1874 
by  Mr.  Charles  G.  Patten.  The  pollen  parent  of  the  Eastman  is  un- 
known, but  the  apple  from  which  the  seed  was  obtained  grew  in  Mr. 
Patten's  orchard  at  Charles  City,  where  there  were  also  growing 
trees  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  Oldenburg,  and  Wealthy  apples.  The 
Eastman  is,  therefore,  probably  a  cross  between  the  Fameuse  and 
one  of  these  varieties.1 

This  variety  was  first  offered  to  the  trade  in  the  spring  of  1884. 
and  the  synonyms  named  above  were  used  at  various  times  by  Mr. 
Patten  in  his  catalogues.  But,  as  none  of  these  names  seemed  to  be 
suitable^  he  subsequently  applied  the  name  "  Eastman  "  in  honor  of 
Mr.  P.  S.  Eastnian,  formerly  of  Iowa  but  now  residing  at  Berkeley, 
Cal.,  who  supplied  the  Oldenburg  apple  from  a  seed  of  which  the 
Patten2  (Patten  Greening)  apple  originated. 

1  Letters  from  Mr.  Charles  G.  Patten,  October  and  November,  1912. 

2  For  description  and  illustration,  see  Yearbook,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  for  1908, 
p.  474. 


PROMISING   NEW  FRUITS. 


r, 
263 


The  tree  makes  a  strong,  vigorous,  spreading  growth  and  is  con- 
ceded to  be  decidedly  more  hardy  than  its  parent,  the  Fameuse,  and 
equal  in  hardiness  to  the  Wealthy.  It  has  proved  to  be  a  remarkably 
early,  regular,  and  prolific  bearer.  For  some  years  it  has  been  giv- 
ing good  satisfaction  in  central  ^lowa,  as  well  as  in  various  sections 
of  Minnesota.  It  seems  to  do  well  in  the  Bayfield  Peninsula  region 
of  Wisconsin,  and  Mr.  Eastman  has  recently  fruited  it  at  Berkeley, 
Cal.,  where  it  is  considered  by  him  to  be  a  promising  variety. 

The  original  tree  became  weakened  by  mechanical  injuries  and 
was  cut  down  in  1910,  though  still  bearing  fruit. 

DESCRIPTION.1 

Form  roundish,  slightly  truncate,  sides  often  unequal;  size  large; 
cavity  regular,  large,  deep,  slope  gradual,  somewhat  russeted;  stem 
of  medium  length,  rather  slender;  basin  irregular,  very  large,  deep, 
slope  abrupt,  furrowed  ;  calyx  small,  closed  ;  eye  small,  funnel  form  ; 
surface  smooth  except  indistinct  ribbing;  color  pale  yellow,  heavily 
washed  with  delicate  bright  red  in  highly  colored  specimens  and 
marked  with  broken  stripes  and  splashes  of  light  carmine;  dots 
numerous,  small;  flesh  whitish:  texture  rather  coarse,  tender,  mod- 
erately juicy  ;  core  roundish  conic,  clasping  the  long  calyx  tube,  size 
medium,  slightly  open;  seeds  few,  plump,  medium  size,  color  rich 
brown  ;  flavor  mild  subacid,  moderately  rich,  pleasant  :  quality  good. 
Season  in  locality  of  origin,  late  fall,  ripening  just  after  the  Wealthy 
apple. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  I  was  grown  by  the  originator 
at  Charles  City,  Floyd  County,  Iowa,  in  1912. 

MONOCACY  APPLE. 

SYNONYMS:  Hoop,  Baumgardner,  Bill  Baumgardner,  Smith. 

[PLATE    II.] 
EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  Monocacy  apple  is  one  of  many  examples  of  fruit  varieties 
that  apparently  possess  great  potential  possibilities  and  have  long 
been  grown  in  very  restricted  regions,  where  they  are  highly  esteemed, 
but  which  remain  quite  unknown  to  fruit  growers  generally. 

The  history  of  this  variety  as  recalled  by  Mr.  Frederick  Dorcus, 
of  Carroll  County,  Md.,  who  is  now  81  years  of  age,  supplied  in  the 
present  connection  by  Mr.  Jesse  P.  Weybright,2  also  of  Carroll 

1  The  varietal  descriptions  of  the  Eastman  and  Summer  King  apples,  the  Chesapeake 
strawberry,  and  the  Pollock  avocado  used  in  this  paper  are  based  on  data  in  the  Office 
of  Pomological  Collections,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

2  Letters  from  Mr.  Weybright,  September  and  November,  1912. 


264  YEAKBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTUEE. 

County,  is  substantially  as  follows,  the  account  of  the  original  tree 
beginning  with  the  year  1849,  when  Mr.  Dorcus  remembers  eating 
apples  which  it  produced: 

The  tree  stood  on  a  farm  owned  by  Mr.  William  Baumgardner, 
which  was  located  on  the  Monocacy  River,  in  Carroll  County,  at 
the  mouth  of  Piney  Creek  and  about  7  miles  southwest  of  Taney- 
town.  This  farm  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Aaron  Veant.1 

The  tree  was  considered  a  wilding  and  the  fruit  was  so  hard  in 
the  fall  that  it  was  not  usually  gathered.  About  Christmas  time, 
however,  during  these  early  years,  Mr.  Dorcus  would  go  to  the  tree, 
secure  the  frozen  apples,  and,  after  thawing  them,  would  eat  them. 

Apparently  this  variety  came  into  local  prominence  about  1859 
or  1860  through  a  Mr.  Seiss,  who  lived  in  a  tenant  house  on  the 
"  Baumgardner  farm  "  and  who  helped  pick  the  apples.  When  the 
crop  was  harvested  that  fall,  the  fruit  on  this  tree  being  left  un- 
touched, as  was  the  usual  practice,  Mr.  Seiss  obtained  the  permis- 
sion of  Mr.  Baumgardner  to  gather  it  for  himself.  This  he  did, 
picking  30  bushels,  which  he  took  home  and  buried  in  a  pit.  He 
kept  them  in  this  manner  till  late  the  following  spring  after  the 
apples  of  everyone  else  were  all  gone.  At  this  season  they  were  of 
such  high  quality  that  they  attracted  much  attention  and  apparently 
created  considerable  local  excitement. 

At  about  this  time  (1859  or  1860)  Abram  and  Isaac  Furney  were 
growing  nursery  trees  near  Taneytown,  Carroll  County.  They 
grafted  a  considerable  number  of  trees  of  this  variety,  and  these 
became  known  locally  as  the  "  Hoop  "  apple.  Apparently  these  were 
the  first  trees  of  the  variety  to  be  propagated  in  a  nursery. 

Recollection  as  to  the  location  of  the  original  tree  differs  somewhat. 
Mr.  Dorcns  recalls  it  as  being  in  a  field  near  a  ravine,  standing  apart 
from  any  other  trees,  while  others  say  that -it  stood  in  the  orchard  on 
the  Baumgardner  farm;  but  as  to  the  more  important  features,  this 
account  appears  to  be  well  authenticated. 

There  is  another  account 2  of  this  variety  which  locates  the  original 
tree  about  one-half  mile  from  Wobdsboro,  Frederick  County,  Md., 
on  a  farm  owned  at  the  time  by  the  late  George  Livingston  Smith. 
When  Mr.  Smith  gathered  his  apples  in  the  fall  of  1865  he  was 
attracted  by  this  particular  variety,  which  apparently  had  remained 
unnoticed  in  previous  years.  It  is  stated  that  after  due  effort  had 
been  made  to  ascertain  the  name  of  the  variety  without  success  he 
called  it  the  "  Smith  "  apple.  This  name  is  still  applied  to  this 
variety  in  some  localities  in  Frederick  County. 

1  Letter  from  Mr.  Veant,  November,  1912. 

2. Letters  from  Mr.  D.  A.  Sharetts,  October,  1912 ;  also  from  Mr.  Charles  E.  Klein, 
November,  1912. 


20V 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  265 

As  the  "  Smith  farm,"  near  Woodsboro,  is  but  9  or  10  miles  distant 
from  the  "  Baumgardner  place,"  referred  to  in  the  earlier  account,,  the 
occurrence  of  3  tree  or  trees  of  the  variety  of  fruiting  age  at  Woods- 
boro as  early  as  1865  is  not  difficult  of  satisfactory  explanation. 

As  already  indicated,  the  names  "  Smith  "  and  "  Hoop  "  are  applied 
locally  to  this  apple;  in  other  localities  it  is  still  known  as  the 
"  Baumgardner  "  or  "  Bill  Baumgardner  "  apple.  The  name  "  Monoc- 
acy," so  far  as  known,  was  first  suggested  for  this  variety  in  1897 
by  Mr.  J.  A.  Ramsburg,1  of  Frederick,  Md.  The  identity  of  the  va- 
riety was  then  apparently  unknown  to  him,  and  because  of  the  fact 
that  it  originated  near  and  for  many  years'  had  been  considerably 
grown  at  points  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Monocacy  River  this  name 
seemed  to  be  an  appropriate  one.  In  recent  years  the  name  "  Monoc- 
acy "  has  become  more  widely  known  than  any  one  of  the  others, 
the  variety  having  been  commercially  propagated  and  disseminated 
under  this  designation.  So  far  as  known,  the  other  names,  though  in 
use  locally  for  many  years  before  the  name  "  Monocacy  "  was  sug- 
gested, have  not  previously  been  published  in  connection  with  the 
variety. 

Though  this  variety  has  become  somewhat  more  widely  distrib- 
uted in  recent  years,  it  remains  very  largely  unknown  except  in  the 
northeastern  portion  of  Frederick  and  the  western  part  of  Carroll 
County,  Md.  It  is  to  be  found  in  many  small  home  orchards  in 
this  region,  where  in  most  cases  its  distribution  has  been  by  means 
of  scions  top-worked  into  trees  of  bearing  age. 

The  original  tree  died  some  years  ago,  having  become  greatly 
weakened,  it  is  said,  from  the  excessive  cutting  of  scions  from  it. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish,  some  specimens  slightly  oblate  conic,  sometimes 
slightly  ribbed;  size  medium  to  large;  cavity  regular,  medium  to 
large,  rather  deep,  slope  abrupt,  sometimes  .slightly  russeted,  but 
without  markings  in  the  majority  of  specimens;  stem  short,  rather 
slender;  basin  regular,  medium  in  size  and  depth,  slope  gradual, 
some  leather  cracking,  slightly  furrowed ;  calyx  segments  medium  to 
large,  converging;  eye  rather  large,  closed  or  nearly  so;  surface 
smooth ;  color  yellowish  green,  almost  entirely  overspread  with  dark 
crimson,  shading  to  a  purplish  crimson  in  very  highly  colored  speci- 
mens, splashed  and  striped  with  darker  crimson,  with  an  overspread 
of  mottled  gray  in  many  specimens;  dots  yellowish  white,  rather 
numerous,  increasing  in  numbers  toward  the  apex,  rather  large  and., 
conspicuous;  skin  moderately  thi'ck,  tenacious,  and  firm;  flesh  yel- 
lowish white,  sometimes  slightly  tinted  with  red;  texture  moder- 
ately fine  grained,  juicy;  core  large,  oblate,  clasping,  closed  or  par- 

1  Letter  from  Mr.  Ramsburg,  October,  1897. 


266  YEARBOOK   OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

tially  open;  carpels  rather  small,  nearly  circular;  seeds  numerous, 
of  medium  size,  plump,  rich  dark  brown ;  flavor  mild,  subacid,  pleas- 
ant, moderately  rich;  quality  good  to  very  good.  It  is  prized  by 
those  who  know  the  variety  best  both  for  culinary  and  dessert  pur- 
poses. Season,  winter,  keeping  till  late  winter  and  sometimes  well 
into  the  spring  in  the  region  in  Maryland  in  which  it  is  most  largely 
grown.  It  is  reported  to  be  an  excellent  variety  for  cold  storage. 

The  tree  attains  only  moderate  size,  but  is  vigorous  and  healthy; 
the  wood  is  very  tough;  limbs  not  easily  broken  by  heavy  crops.  It 
is  said  to  bear  young,  frequently  fruiting  at  from  4  to  6  years  of 
age,  and  to  be  a  long-lived  tree  and  a  heavy,  regular  bearer. 

The  universal  esteem  in  which  the  Monocacy  apple  is  held  in  the 
region  in  which  it  is  best  known  indicates  an  apple  of  much  merit. 
Though  its  color  may  be  a  little  dark,  it  is  attractive  in  appearance 
and  its  quality  is  sufficiently  high  to  give  it  value.  It  is  considered 
worthy  of  extended  trial,  especially  in  middle  latitudes. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  II  was  grown  by  Mr.  Edward 
Shorb,  Keymar,  Carroll  County,  Md.,  in  1912. 

SUMMER  KING  APPLE. 
SYNONYMS  :   Kentucky  Summer  Queen,  Bounty. 

[PLATE    III.] 
EARLY  HISTORY.    • 

The  early  history  of  the  Summer  King  apple  is  obscure.  It  ap- 
pears to  have  been  a  relatively  prominent  variety  in  Warren  County, 
Ky.,  during  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  where  it  is  supposed  to 
have  been  introduced  by  the  early  settlers  from  North  Carolina 
about  1810  or  1815.  More  definite  records  regarding  its  origin  are 
wanting.  It  seems  never  to  have  become  much  known  in  North 
Carolina,  and  at  the  present  time  it  is  very  rarely  found  in  that 
State. 

It  was  introduced  into  eastern  Kansas  about  1860,  but  it  appears 
not  to  have  become  of  commercial  importance  in  that  region.  More 
recently  it  has  been  grown  to  a  limited  extent  in  Maryland,  where 
it  is  very  highly  esteemed.  It  has  also  been  received  at  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  from  Tennessee  and  New  Jersey,  but  the  vari- 
ety is  unknown  to  most  fruit  growers.  It  is  said  to  have  been  known 
in  Kentucky  in  the  earlier  years  under  the  name  of  "  King,"  but  to 
distinguish  it  from  other  varieties  having  that  name  the  prefix 
"  Summer "  was  added  by  the  late  Dr.  William  M.  Howsley,1  of 
Kansas. 

1  Manuscript  notes  of  the  late  Charles  Downing. 


20! 

PROMISING    NEW   FRUITS.  267 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish;  size  medium  to  large;  cavity  regular,  of  medium 
size  and  depth,  slope  gradual,  with  russet  markings;  stem  short, 
stout;  basin  regular,  small,  of  medium  depth,  slope  gradual,  some- 
times slightly  furrowed;  calyx  segments  rather  short,  wide,  converg- 
ing; eye  small,  closed;  surface  smooth;  color  greenish  yellow,  washed 
and  marbled  with  mixed  red  and  broken  stripes  of  crimson  and  over- 
spread of  gray;  dots  numerous,  rather  conspicuous,  yellowish  or 
light  gray,  sometimes  russet;  skin  moderately  thick,  tenacious; 
flesh  whitish  yellow,  fine  grained,  tender,  juicy;  core  oblate  conic 
to  roundish  conic,  large,  clasping,  partially  open;  seeds  few  as  a 
rule,  plump,  large,  color  light  brown ;  flavor  mild,  pleasant  subacid ; 
quality  good  to  very  good.  Season,  early  August  in  eastern  Mary- 
land, continuing  for  two  or  three  weeks. 

The  tree  makes  a  thrifty,  straight  growth  in  the  nursery  and  forms 
an  upright,  round,  symmetrical  head  in  the  orchard.  It  comes  into 
bearing  early  and  is  considered  productive.1 

On  account  of  the  beauty  and  high  quality  of  this  variety  and  the 
productiveness  of  the  tree  it  is  apparently  worthy  of  a  more  promi- 
nent place  in  the  early-apple  industry  of  middle  latitudes  and  the 
South  than  it  holds  at  the  present  time. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  III  was  received  through  Mr. 
J.  W.  Kerr,  Denton,  Caroline  County,  Md.,  in  1912. 

DOUGLAS  PEAR. 

[PLATE    IV.] 
EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  Douglas  pear  originated  with  Mr.  O.  H.  Aver,  near  Law- 
rence. Douglas  County,  Kans.,  as  did  the  Ayer  pear.2  The  exact 
year  of  its  origin  is  not  a  matter  of  definite  record,  though  it  was 
about  1897.  It  came  from  a  seed  of  the  Kieffer  pear  and  is  sup- 
posed to  be  a  hybrid  between  that  variety  and  the  Angouleme 
(Duchesse  d' } Angouleme).  It  first  fruited  in  1902.  During  that 
season  the  fruit  was  exhibited  before  the  local  county  horticultural 
society,  where  it  attracted  the  attention  of  Mr.  A.  H.  Griesa,  of  Law- 
rence, who  later  that  same  season  made  an  examination  of  the  tree. 
It  was  then  standing  in  a  much  overcrowded  row  of  seedling  pear 
trees  and  was  the  only  one  of  the  entire  collection  to  fruit  that  year. 
The  general  appearance  of  the  tree,  the  character  of  the  foliage,  and 

1  Letter  from  Mr.  J.  W.  Kerr,  November,  1912. 

2  For  description  of  the  Ayer  pear,  see  Yearbook,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  for  1911, 
p.  428. 

97563°— 13 2 


268  YEARBOOK   OF    THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

the  buds  were  especially  good,  and  Mr.  Griesa  at  once  became  in- 
terested in  it.  It  was  at  his  suggestion  that  the  name  "  Douglas," 
the  county  in  which  it  originated,  was  applied  to  it.  Though  it  has 
been  known  locally  for  several  years  by  this  name,  the  latter  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  published  until  it  appeared  in  a  leaflet  issued  by 
Mr.  Griesa  in  1910.  The  variety  was  first  propagated  by  him  in  1907, 
but  not  disseminated  until  1911. 

In  growth  the  tree  is  said  to  resemble  the  Angouleme.  Thus 
far,  in  the  region  in  which  it  originated  it  has  been  entirely  free 
from  blight,  though  other  pear  trees  in  the  same  locality  have 
blighted  seriously.  Bearing  begins  remarkably  early;  trees  2  and  3 
years  old  frequently  producing  some  fruit.  It  blossoms  a  few  days 
later  than  the  Kieffer,  or  about  with  the  Angouleme.  The  original 
tree  is  still  in  good  thrifty  condition.1 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  obovate  or  roundish  obovate;  size  medium  to  large;  cavity 
regular^  medium  to  large,  depth  medium,  slope  gradual,  slightly  rus- 
seted;  stem  very  long,  rather  slender;  basin  slightly  irregular,  me- 
dium in  size;  rather  shallow,  slope  gradual,  slightly  ribbed;  calyx 
segments  short,  fleshy,  converging;  eye  medium,  open  or  partially 
closed;  surface  smooth  except  where  slight  undulations  occur,  some- 
times slightly  russeted  in  small  patches;  color  yellow,  characteristi- 
cally blotched  and  mottled  with  small  irregular  scarlet  markings  on 
the  exposed  side,  dots  numerous,  in  many  cases  appearing  as  minute 
russeted  spots;  skin  thin;  core  oval,  clasping,  rather  large,  closed; 
seeds  of  medium  size,  not  very  plump,  dark  brown ;  flesh  whitish  or 
greenish  white,  moderately  fine  grained,  melting,  very  juicy,  with 
occasional  coarse  granules  in  the  flesh;  flavor  subacid,  with  slight 
astringency;  quality  good;  season  about  with  the  Kieffer  or  a  little 
earlier — from  the  first  to  the  middle  of  October  in  the  locality  of  its 
origin. 

Though  this  variety  does  not  rate  as  high  in  flavor  and  dessert 
quality  as  many  varieties,  it  is  distinctly  better  than  the  Kieffer  and 
is  particularly  attractive  in  appearance.  The  vigor  and  healthful- 
ness  of  the  tree,  and  especially  its  freedom  from  blight,  make  it  a 
promising  new  variety  and  one  that  should  be  widely  tested. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  IV  was  grown  by  Mr.  A.  H. 
Griesa,  Lawrence,  Douglas  County,  Kans..,  in  1912. 

1  Letter  from  Mr.  A.  H.  Griesa,  May,  1912. 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture,  1912. 


PLATE    I 


EASTMAN  APPLE. 


<J- 
ff 

JULIUS  BIEN  CO 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture,  1912. 


PLATE   II 


MONOCACY  APPLE 


JULIUS  BIEN  CO.LITH  I 


Yearbook  U.  S.Dept  of  Agriculture,  1912. 


PLATE  III 


SUMMER  KING  APPLE 


JUUUS  FICN  CO  LITH 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1912. 


PLATE   IV 


DOUGLAS  PEAR 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.  1912 


PLATE    V 


CHESAPEAKE  STRAWBERRY. 


IUS  BIEN  CO  LITH  I 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture,  1912 


PLATE    VI 


ORMOND  PERSIMMON 


JJUUS  BICN  CO.LITH  I 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture.  1912. 


PLATE  VII 


POLLOCK  AVOCADO. 


JULIUS  BIEN  co. i 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  1912. 


PLATE   VIII 


MAJOR.BURKETT.WARRICK,  HAVENS,  AND  OWENS  PECANS. 


JULIUS  Pith  CO  i 


PROMISING    NEW   FRUITS.  269 


CHESAPEAKE    STRAWBERRY. 

[PLATE    V.] 
EARLY  HISTORY. 


The  Chesapeake  strawberry  originated  as  a  chance  seedling  of  un- 
known parentage  with  Mr.  George  W.  Parks,  of  Nanticoke,  Wicom- 
ico  County,  Md.  The  site  of  its  origin  was  on  Nanticoke  Point, 
within  a  short  distance  of  Chesapeake  Bay;  hence  its  name,  which 
was  selected  by  the  introducer  and  first  published  in  1906,  when  the 
variety  was  originally  offered  to  the  trade.1 

The  plants  are  vigorous,  with  thick,  leathery,  healthy  foliage, 
which  is  borne  on  upright  leafstalks.  The  plant  is  not  prolific  of 
runners,  but  under  most  conditions  enough  so  for  fruiting  purposes. 
The  blossoms  are  perfect;  the  flower  trusses  rather  short  but  erect. 
It  sets  only  a  moderate  quantity  of  fruit,  but  the  tendency  for  every 
berry  that  forms  to  develop  into  a  perfect  specimen  is  exceptionally 
strong.  No  marked  soil  preferences  are  thus  far  indicated,  as  it 
appears  to  do  well  on  nearly  all  types  that  are  suitable  for  the  grow- 
ing of  the  well-known  varieties  of  strawberries. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Form  roundish  conic,  often  with  wedge-shaped  apex;  size  quite 
uniformly  large;  stem  1^  to  3  inches  long,  rather  stout;  calyx  dark 
green,  of  medium  size ;  sepals  10  to  16,  rather  closely  adherent ;  apex 
regular,  usually  ripening  uniformly;  surface  glossy;  color  rich 
crimson,  durable ;  seeds  regularly  placed,  numerous,  medium  to  large, 
rather  conspicuous,  projecting  slightly  above  the  surface;  flesh  light 
red  or  crimson:  texture  meaty,  tender,  but  firm;  usually  solid,  but 
sometimes  showing  slight  cavities  in  the  center,  juicy;  shipping 
quality  excellent;  flavor  rich,  subacid,  nearly  sweet;  aroma  very 
pleasant;  quality  very  good.  Season  late,  beginning  to  ripen  three 
or  four  days  in  advance  of  Gandy,  which  for  many  years  has  been 
very  widely  planted  as  the  leading  late  commercial  variety  in  the 
Middle  Atlantic  States. 

The  Chesapeake  strawberry  has  been  planted  in  many  sections 
since  it  was  introduced,  and  apparently  with  quite  uniformly  satis- 
factory results.  It  appears  to  be  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  the 
newer  varieties. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  V  were  grown  by  Mr.  C.  P. 
Close.  College  Park,  Prince  Georges  County,  Md,,  in  1912. 

1  Letter  from  Mr.  W.  F.  Allen,  June,  1912. 


270  YEAKBOOK    OF   THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

ORMOND  PERSIMMON. 
SYNONYMS  :  Bostrom,  Vining' s  Winter,  Ormond  Winter. 

[PLATE   VI.  1 
EARLY   HISTORY. 

The  Ormond  persimmon  belongs  to  the  oriental  species  Diospyros 
kaki.  Its  early  history  is  somewhat  uncertain.  The  original  tree 
was  apparently  sent  from  Washington,  D.  C.,  supposedly  by  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  to  the  Rev.  E.  Y.  Pinkerton,  at  Ormond, 
Fla.  There  is  a  difference  of  opinion,  or  recollection,  at  the  present 
time  with  reference  to  when  this  occurred.  Mr.  J.  A.  Bostrom  1 
places  it  about  the  year  1870,  but  Mr.  James  P.  Vining,2  who  has 
known  the  variety  for  many  years,  has  assumed  a  date  several  years 
later  than  this,  his  conclusion  being  based  on  the  time  of  certain 
property  transfers  which  occurred  in  the  late  eighties.  But  there 
appears  to  be  a  unity  of  statement  regarding  the  general  facts  of 
the  case. 

The  tree  was  planted  by  Mr.  Bostrom  for  Mr.  Pinkerton,  and,  as 
recalled  by  the  former,  it  was  about  the  size  of  a  lead  pencil  and 
apparently  a  seedling,  as  it  bore  no  signs  of  having  been  budded  or 
grafted.  At  the  time  the  tree  came  into  Mr.  Bostrom 's  hands  there 
was  a  side  branch  which  had  developed  from  a  point  near  the  crown. 
When  it  was  planted  this  branch  was  cut  off  and  grafted  by  Mr. 
Bostrom  into  a  wild  persimmon  tree  on  his  own  place. 

On  account  of  the  enforced  absence  of  Mr.  Pinkerton  the  tree  re- 
ceived but  little  care  and  soon  died.  However,  Mr.  Bostrom's  graft 
grew,  and  within  a  year  or  two  it  began  to  fruit.  The  tree  which 
developed  from  this  graft  is  still  in  the  possession  of  its  original 
owner  and  is  in  a  thrifty  condition. 

According  to  Mr.  Vining,  the  fruit  at  first  was  not  recognized  as 
of  any  special  value,  but  later,  because  of  its  long-keeping  charac- 
teristics, it  attracted  attention. 

This  variety  has  been  propagated  locally  to  a  limited  extent  for 
some  years.  It  is  known  to  some  about  Ormond  as  the  "  Bostrom  " 
persimmon.  In  1909  it  was  offered  to  the  trade  by  Griffing  Brothers 
Co.,  of  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  and  catalogued  under  the  name  "  Vining's 
Winter,"  but  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Vining  it  was  listed  the  following 
year  as  "  Ormond  Winter."  Under  the  code  of  nomenclature  of  the 
American  Pomological  Society  this  name  is  reduced  to  Ormond. 

1  Letter  from  Mr.  Bostrom,  January,  1913. 

2  Letter  from  Mr.  Vining,  June,  1911. 


PROMISING   NEW  FRUITS.  271 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  oblong;  size  small  to  medium  in  comparison  with  many  of 
the  more  widely  known  Japanese  varieties ;  cavity  even  with  surface, 
somewhat  corrugated  and  furrowed;  calyx  large,  lobes  strongly 
reflexed;  apex  a  raised  point  with  four  indistinct  furrows  radiating 
from  it;  surface  smooth;  color  yellowish  red;  dots  minute,  scatter- 
ing;  skin  thin,  rather  tender;  bloom  whitish;  flesh  of  very  deep 
orange  color  with  reddish  tinge  toward  center ;  texture  meaty,  tender, 
only  moderately  juicy,  with  rather  numerous  small  fibers  extending 
nearly  entire  length;  seeds  long  and  rather  large,  number  variable, 
first  fruits  to  ripen  usually  containing  one  or  more,  later  fruits 
mostly  seedless  or  at  most  containing  only  undeveloped  rudimentary 
seeds;  flavor  sweet,  fairly  rich,  losing  all  astringency  when  soft; 
quality  good  to  very  good.  The  first  fruits  to  ripen,  which  are 
usually  imperfect,  reach  maturity  in  November  and  December;  the 
bulk  of  the  crop,  however,  retains  its  firmness,  and  at  Ormond  it  is 
usually  gathered  about  the  last  week  in  December  in  order  to  avoid 
the  effects  of  the  relatively  low  temperatures  that  are  likely  to  occur 
after  that  time.  The  foliage  usually  drops  considerably  before  the 
fruit  is  picked.  While  a  temperature  of  25°  F.  is  said  to  have  no 
very  appreciable  effect  on  the  fruit,  if  subjected  to  one  below  25°  F. 
it  causes  the  fitiits  to  soften,  and  fermentation  soon  follows.1 

After  the  fruit  is  picked,  if  it  is  held  in  a  cool  place  it  matures 
gradually,  some  of  the  specimens  retaining  their  firmness  ujitil  Feb- 
ruary and  March,  or  even  later  in  some  instances. 

The  tree  makes  a  vigorous,  upright  growth  and  bears  abundantly 
and  regularly.  The  foliage  usually  drops  in  early  December  in  the 
latitude  of  Ormond,  and  where  the  fruit  is  allowed  to  remain  on  the 
trees,  as  is  commonly  done,  till  the  end  of  that  month  or  early  Janu- 
ary, the  heavily  loaded  branches  produce  a  striking  effect. 

The  late  season  and  long-Jveeping  qualities  of  this  fruit,  together 
with  its  heavy  and  regular  bearing  proclivities  and  its  pleasing  des- 
sert quality,  make  it  a  variety  among  the  Japanese  persimmons  hav- 
ing quite  unusual  characteristics.  It  should  be  widely,  tested,  but  on 
account  of  its  lateness  in  maturing  it  may  be  expected  to  succeed  best 
in  the  more  southern  Japanese  persimmon  districts. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  VI  were  received  from  Mr. 
James  P.  Vining,  Ormond,  Volusia  County,  Fla.,  in  1911. 

1  Letter  from  Mr.  Vining,  December,  1911. 


272  YEAKBOOK   OF    THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTUEE. 

POLLOCK  AVOCADO. 

[PLATE   VII.] 
EABLY    HISTORY. 

The  Pollock  avocado  originated  on  the  grounds  of  Mr.  S.  H.  Pol- 
lock, of  Miami,  Fla.,  about  1896  or  1897.  The  seed  from  which  the 
original  tree  grew  was  obtained  from  a  fruit  produced  on  a  tree  also 
owned  by  Mr.  Pollock,  which  it  is  claimed  was  brought  from  Cuba.1 

The  present  name,  given  in  honor  of  the  originator,  was  in  local 
use  as  early  as  1901,  when  budded  trees  of  it  under  this  designation 
were  commercially  disseminated  by  Mr.  George  B.  Cellon,  of  Miami. 
The  original  tree  is  still  in  good  condition.  Fruit  was  exhibited  at 
the  meeting  of  the  American  Pomological  Society,  which  was  held 
in  Boston,  Mass.,  in  September,  1903.2 

This  variety,  has  been  grown  to  some  extent  in  the  work  of  the 
Office, of  Foreign  Seed  and  Plant  Introduction  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant 
Industry  of  this  department  and  inventoried  as  S.  P.  I.  No.  12936. 3 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  pyrif orm ;  .size  very  large,  sometimes  weighing  3  pounds  or 
even  more ;  cavity  regular,  size  and  depth  medium,  slope  gradual, 
furrowed;  apex  a  small  point;  surface  undulating,  indented;  color 
greenish  with  yellow  marblings  and  indistinct  purplish  stripes ;  dots 
numerous,  brown,  indented ;  flesh  yellow  with  purplish  veins,  buttery, 
tender ;  seed  obconic,  medium  in  size  in  comparison  with  fruit,  nearly 
filling  cavity ;  flavor  mild,  very  pleasant ;  quality  very  good ;  season 
August  and  September,  sometimes  extending  into  October  in  south- 
ern Florida. 

The  tree  makes  only  a  moderate  growth  and  produces  a  fair  num- 
ber of  very  large  fruits.  Though  much  less  important  commercially 
than  the  Trapp  avocado,4  which  in  this  respect  leads  all  other  sorts 
grown  in  Florida,  it  is  perhaps  surpassed  only  by  that  variety  in  the 
esteem  in  which  it  is  held,  its  large  size  and  high  dessert  quality  be- 
ing its  chief  distinguishing  characteristics. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  VII  was  grown  at  the  Subtrop- 
ical Plant  Introduction  Garden  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry, 
Miami,  Dade  County,  Fla.,  in  1912. 

1  Letter  from  Mr.   Edward  Simmonds,   Subtropical  Plant  Introduction  Garden,  Miami, 
Fla.,  December,  1912. 

2  Letter  from  Prof.  P.  H.  Rolfs,  November,  1912. 

3  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Bulletin  97   (Inventory  No.  11),  p.  119. 

*  For  description  and  illustration,  see  Yearbook,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  for  1905 
p.  508. 


PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS. 
PECANS.    - 

[PLATE   VIII.] 

Until  quite  recent  years  planters  of  pecan  trees  have  been  greatly 
handicapped  in  the  selection  of  varieties  because  of  the  limited  num- 
ber of  choice  sorts  which  have  shown  special  adaptability  to  particu- 
lar localities.  In  comparison  with  most  other  fruits  the  number  of 
varieties  available  in  the  form  of  budded  or  grafted  trees  has  been 
very  small,  and  of  most  varieties  but  a  small  stock  was  carried  by 
the  nurseries.  Planters  frequently  have  been  satisfied  with  pecan 
trees  merely  because  they  were  "  grafted  "  or  "  budded,"  without 
regard  to  the  variety  or  its  adaptability  to  local  conditions,  and  not 
infrequently  the  varieties  have  been  of  a  "  selected  list "  made  up  by 
unscrupulous  tree  sellers.  Up  to  the  present  time  from  100  to  150 
varieties  have  been  propagated,  but  of  these  many  have  already  been 
abandoned  and  others  are  of  too  recent  introduction  to  have  demon- 
strated their  value. 

At  present  there  are  about  50  sorts  of  sufficient  merit  to  make  it 
possible  to  select  varieties  reasonably  certain  to  succeed  in  almost 
any  pecan-growing  locality.  The  introduction  of  new  varieties  is 
no  longer  necessary  or  advisable  unless  they  possess  very  evident 
superiority  in  productiveness,  size,  disease  resistance,  cracking  qual- 
ity, dessert  quality,  or  other  important  characteristics,  or  proved 
adaptability  to  special  conditions.  Additional  varieties  of  medium 
value  only  burden  the  lists  and  cause  confusion.  With  the  exception 
of  the  Havens^  the  varieties  here  described  and  illustrated  are  of  spe- 
cial interest  because  of  their  having  originated  in  sections  to  which 
the  adaptability  of  few  nained  sorts  has  yet  been  demonstrated. 

BURKETT  PECAN/ 
SYXOXYM  :  Labadie. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Burkett  pecan  was  first  discovered  by  Mr. 
J.  -H.  Burkett,  of  Clyde,  Tex.  It  was  a  wild  tree  then  standing  in  a 
crowded  location  near  the  banks  of  Battle  Creek,  3  miles  east  of 
Putnam,  Callahan  County,  Tex,,  on  a  farm  owned  at  that  time  by 
Mr.  Y.  A.  Orr.,  After  observing  this  tree  for  three  seasons  Mr.  Bur- 
kett became  so  favorably  impressed  with  its  bearing  habit  and  the 
evident  merits  of  the  nut  that  on  July  4,  1903,  he  inserted  two  buds 
from  it  in  a  pecan  sprout  grown  from  a  stump  cut  two  years  before, 
which  stood  in  the  open  some  300  yards  from  the  parent  tree  and  on 
land  then  owned  by  him.  This  budded  tree  made  a  rapid  growth, 
and  in  1904  it  matured  two  nuts.  From  that  year  the  annual  crops 

1  The  descriptions  of  pecan  varieties  which  follow  have  been  furnished  by  Mr.  C.  A. 
Reed,  scientific  assistant.  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


YEARBOOK   OF    THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

increased  in  size  until  1910,  when  it  yielded  10  pounds.  The  follow- 
ing year  the  crop  fell  to  6  pounds.  In  1912  it  again  bore  well,  al- 
though trespassers  gathered  practically  the  entire  crop,  and  the  exact 
yield  is  therefore  not  known.  The  parent  tree  passed  out  of  control 
of  Mr.  Burkett  and  was  killed  by  being  cut  to  the  ground  in  the 
spring  of  1912. 

In  an  address  on  "  New  varieties  of  pecans/'  given  by  Mr.  M. 
Falkner,  of  Waco,  Tex.,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Texas  State  Horticul- 
tural Society  in  July,  1911,  this  variety,  on  the  basis  of  information 
received  from  different  sources,  was  unwittingly  reported  under  the 
names  "  Burkett "  and  "  Labadie,"  the  latter  having  been  applied 
in  honor  of  Mr.  Victor  H.  Labadie,  of  Dallas,  Tex.,  who  had  become 
interested  in  it.  This  address  was  subsequently  published  as  a  part 
of  the  report  of  that  society.1  This  unintentional  duplication  soon 
became  apparent  and  "  Burkett "  was  recognized  as  the  correct  name 
of  the  variety  by  Reed  in  1912.2 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  large,  averaging  from  50  to  55  nuts  per  pound ;  form  roundish 
oblong,  distinctly  shouldered  at  apical  end;  base  flattened;  apex 
short ;  color  light  gray  brown,  with  numerous  black  specks  over  en- 
tire surface  and  dark  splashes  near  apex;  shell  moderately  thin, 
though  soft  and  breaking  readily ;  partitions  somewhat  thick,  corky ; 
cracking  quality  good ;  kernel  symmetrical,  roundish  oblong,  broadly 
grooved,  surface  smooth ;  texture  moderately  firm ;  flavor  sweet ; 
quality  very  rich,  oily.  The  nuts  are  uniform  in  size  and  the  kernels 
plump,  although  riot  to  such  a  degree  as  to  interfere  with  the  crack- 
ing quality. 

The  budded  tree  was  described  to  Mr.  Falkner  in  1911  as  then  being 
"  about  12  feet  high,  with  a  6-inch  diameter  3  feet  above  ground,  and 
of  symmetrical  form."  Mr.  Burkett  reports  that  the  foliage  of  this 
tree  is  dense,  coarse,  and  of  a  rich  green  color.  He  states  that  the 
variety  is  easy  to  propagate.  The  nuts1  are  said  to  form  in  large 
clusters. 

Because  of  its  good  quality,  ease  of  cracking,  large  size^,  and  place 
of  origin,  this  variety  should  be  especially  valuable  for  planting  in 
northern  and  central  Texas  and  places  of  similar  climatic  and  soil 
conditions. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  VIII  were  of  the  crop  of  1911 
from  the  budded  tree  and  were  supplied  by  Mr.  Burkett. 

1  Proceedings  of  the  Fourteenth  Texas  Farmers'  Congress.     Texas  Department  of  Agri- 
culture, Bulletin  22,  1911,  p.  122. 

2  The  Pecan.     Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Bulletin  251,  p.  47. 


' 

^1  4 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  275 

MAJOR  PECAN. 

The  parent  tree  of  the  Major  pecan  is  located  in  a  native  pecan 
forest  near  the  mouth  of  Green  River,  Henderson  County,  Ky.  It  is 
oAvned  by  Mrs.  Laurie -M.  B.  Major,  of  Henderson*  in  honor  of  whose 
late  husband  it  was  named.  It  appears  to  have  attracted  considerable 
local  attention  previous  to  1907,  when  Mr.  C.  G.  Taylor,  of  Princeton, 
Ind.,  sent  specimens  of  the  nuts  to  Mr.  W.  N.  Roper,  of  Petersburg, 
Va.  The  evident  merits  of  the  nuts  and  the  account  of  the  tree  so 
favorably  impressed  Mr.  Roper  and  his  partner^  Mr.  E.  Gill  Hinton, 
that  the  latter  went  to  the  original  tree  during  the  summer  of  1908 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  scions,  and  from  the  scions  then  obtained 
the  first  nursery-grown  trees  of  the  variety  were  propagated.  The 
variety  was  first  described  in  the  second  edition  of  "  The  Pecan  and 
Its  Culture,"*by  H.  H.  Hume,  in  1910. 

The  actual  bearing  record  of  this  tree  has  not  been  kept,  but  it  is 
stated  by  persons  in  the  locality  of  its  origin  that  during  recent 
years  it  has  borne  regularly  and  that  frequently  the  crops  have  been 
approximately  100  pounds.  It  is  a  healthy  tree  2J  feet  in  diameter 
at  breast  height  and  59  feet  to  the  first  branch. 

DESCRIPTION. 

• 

Size  somewhat  below  medium,  averaging  from  85  to  90  nuts  per 
pound;  form  roundish  oblong  to  oblong  conic,  tapering  slightly  at 
base;  apex  short,  rather  plainly^  grooved;  color  light  brown  with 
sparse  markings  toward  apex;  shell  smooth,  moderately  thick. brittle, 
cracking  readily;  kernel  roundish,  oblong,  plump,  bright  colored, 
and  sufficiently  broad  grooved  to  release  kernel  readily;  texture 
firm,  crisp;  flavor  sweet,  pleasant;  quality,  excellent.  In  cracking 
quality  and  richness  of  kernel  this  nut  compares  favorably  with 
any  of  the  known  sorts.  These  points,  together  with  its  reported 
productiveness  and  the  latitude  in  which  it  originated,  should  com- 
mend it  strongly  for  trial  planting  in  the  northern  portions  of  the 
pecan  area. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  VIII  were  of  the  crop  of  1911 
and  were  obtained  from  the  original  tree  by  Mr.  T.  P.  Littlepage, 
of  Boonville,  Ind. 

OWENS  PECAN. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Owens  pecan  was  grown  from  a  nut  pur- 
chased and  planted  in  the  spring  of  1900  by  Mr.  F.  M.  Owens,  upon 
whose  plantation  it  now  stands,  near  Gerald,  Coahoma  County,  Miss. 
Mr.  Owens  purchased  nuts  for  planting  from  the  J.  Steckler  Seed 
Co.,  of  New  Orleans,  and  from  Mr.  S.  H.  James,  of  Mound.  La. 


276  YEARBOOK   OF    THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

Having  made  no  attempt  to  keep  the  seedling  trees  from  the  two 
sources  apart,  he  is  now  unable  to  determine  from  which  source  the 
seed  came.  The  nut  characters  and  the  habit  of  the  tree  so  much 
resemble  the  Frotscher,  one  of  the  varieties  then  being  sold  by  the 
J.  Steckler  Seed  Co.,  that  it  seems  fair  to  assume  that  the  Owens 
is  a  seedling  of  that  variety. 

The  original  tree  was  grown  in  a  nursery  row  and  subsequently 
removed  to  its  present  location.  In  1907  it  bore  one  nut.  In  1908 
the  crop  was  an  entire  failure,  but  in  1909  it  matured  about  100  nuts, 
and  in  1910  it  had  approximately  300  nuts.  In  1911  it  bore  about 
37  pounds,  but  in  1912  the  crop  was  again  very  light.  The  nuts 
usually  mature  about  September  20.  This  variety  was  first  propa- 
gated in  the  spring  of  1911,  when  Mr.  Owens  sent  ^cions  to  two 
nurserymen  in  Louisiana  for  use  in  top  working.  Its  name  was 
suggested  in  March,  1911,  by  Mr.  James,  in  honor  of  Mr.  Owens. 


DESCRIPTION. 


Size  large,  varying  from  55  to  80  nuts  per  pound,  averaging  from 
60  to  65 ;  form  oblong,  oval,  slightly  compressed,  with  tapering  base 
and  apex,  often  one  sided;  sutures  quite  distinct,  somewhat  ridged; 
color  reddish  gray-brown  with  broad  reddish-black  to  black  mark- 
ings, mainly  at  apical  end;  shell  thin;  partitions  fragile;  cracking 
quality  excellent ;  kernel  somewhat  shriveled,  often  lacking  in  plump- 
ness; surface  not  always  smooth;  texture  rather  dry;  flavor  fairly 
good ;  quality  good. 

The  parent  tree  is  described  by  Mr.  Owens  as  being  about  40  feet 
tall,  having  a  spread  of  40  feet  4  inches,  and  as  measuring  33  inches 
around  the  trunk  at  breast  height.  The  foliage  is  dense,  leaflets 
large,  rather  coarse,  and  of  a  dark-green  color.  The  old  wood  is  of 
a  slaty-gray  color  and  the  new  growth  an  olive  green.  On  the  new 
wood  the  dots  are  narrow,  long,  and  quite  numerous. 

The  fact  that  the  place  of  origin  of  this  variety  is  near  the  north- 
ern limit  of  the  region  known  to  be  adapted  to  the  southern  varieties 
combines  with  the  good  size,  ease  of  cracking,  and  earliness  of  matur- 
ing of  the  nuts  to  make  this  variety  well  worthy  of  trial  in  northern 
Mississippi,  southern  Arkansas,  southern  Oklahoma,  and  sections  of 
similar  soil  and  climatic  conditions. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  VIII  are  from  the  original  tree, 
crop  of  1911,  and  were  supplied  by  Mr.  Owens. 

WABRICK  PECAN. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Warrick  pecan  stands  in  a  native  forest 
in  Warrick  County,  Ind.  It  is  located  on  property  near  Pigeon 
Creek,  and  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  C.  F.  Brown,  of  Rockporc,  Ind. 


,v^ 

PROMISING   NEW   FRUITS.  277 

It  was  first  called  to  public  attention  at  Mount  Vernon,  Ind.,  when, 
in  December,  1909,  it  was  awarded  the  first  premium  for  seedling 
pecans  by  the  Southern  Indiana  Pecan  Association.  It  was  named 
by  Mr.  T.  P.  Littlepage,  of  Boonville,  Ind.,  in  the  fall  of  1910, 
when  he  visited  the  tree  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  nut  specimens 
and  the  bearing  record  of  the  tree.  Its  propagation  was  begun  by 
Mr.  Littlepage  in  the  spring  of  1911. 

Little  is  known  of  the  exact  bearing  record  of  this  tree,  as  until 
recent  years  the  nuts  have  bee*n  harvested  annually  by  nut  gatherers 
who  made  no  attempt  to  keep  separate  the  nuts  from  individual  trees, 
but  it  is  locally  reported  to  have  been  a  heavy  and  regular  bearer. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  rather  below  medium,  averaging  from  75  to  80  nuts  per 
pound ;  form  oblong,  with  rather  short  apex  but  longer  base ;  color 
yellowish  brown,  bright,  with  irregular  dark  splashes;  shell  rather 
hard,  moderately  thin,  brittle;  cracking  quality  good;  kernel  rather 
dark  straw  color,  usually  plump,  though  occasionally  somewhat  de- 
fective; flavor  pleasant;  quality  good. 

The  reported  heavy-bearing  habits,  the  attractive  appearance  of 
the  nuts,  the  good  quality  of  its  kernels,  and  its  place  of  origin 
make  this  variety  of  distinct  promise  to  pecan  planters  in  the  more 
northern  districts  suited  to  the  species. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  VIII  were  obtained  from  the 
original  tree  in  1911  by  Mr.  J.  Ford  Wilkinson,  of  Kockport,  Ind. 

HAVENS  PECAN. 

The  original  tree  of  the  Havens  pecan  stands  on  the  residence 
grounds  of  Mrs.  Kate  V.  Havens,  widow  of  the  late  Walter  Havens, 
of  West  Pascagoula,  Miss.  It  was  grown  from  a  nut  of  the  Russell 
variety,  secured  and  -planted  in  the  spot  where  the  tree  now  stands 
by  Mr.  Havens  about  1894.  It  began  bearing  when  5  years  of  age; 
and  while  no  exact  record  of  its  annual  crops  has  been  kept,  it  is 
said  1  to  be  much  like  the  parent  variety  in  its  bearing  habit. 

The  apparent  merits  of  this  nut  were  such  that  it  was  named  in 
honor  of  the  originator  in  1902,  and  in  1903  or  1904  its  propagation 
was  begun  by  Mr.  Theodore  Bechtel,  of  Ocean  Springs,  Miss.  It 
has  since  been  quite  widely  disseminated. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Size  medium  to  large,  averaging  from  about  65  to  70  nuts  per 
pound;  form  oblong,  somewhat  ovate,  compressed,  with  sharp  base 

1  Letter  from  Mrs.  Havens,  July,   1912. 


YEAKBOOK   OF    THE   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE. 

and  blunt  apex;  color  dark  brown  splashed  toward  apex  and  dotted 
on  flattened  sides  with  purplish  black  markings;  shell  very  thin, 
brittle;  partitions  thin  and  fragile;  cracking  quality  excellent;  ker- 
nel bright  brown,  smooth,  usually  plump,  narrowly  grooved ;  texture 
firm,  fine  grained ;  flavor  pleasant ;  quality  good. 

In  form  and  habit  of  growth  the  Havens  tree  resembles  its  parent, 
although  it  is  rather  more  symmetrical  than  that  variety.  Its  bear- 
ing habits  are  also  very  much  the  same.  Mrs.  Havens  reports  that 
this  variety  is  a  vigorous  grower  and  a  heavy  annual  bearer,  but  says 
that  the  nuts  from  the  parent  tree  are  rather  inclined  to  be  defective 
in  plumpness.  Mr.  F.  H.  Lewis,  of  Pascagoula,  Miss.,  who  has  had 
trees  in  bearing  for  some  years,  reports  little  trouble  in  that  respect. 
In  his  opinion  its  productiveness,  thinness  of  shell,  and  excellent 
cracking  qualities  make  it  one  of  the  most  promising  varieties  for 
planting  in  the  Gulf  coast  region  at  the  present  time.  The  speci- 
mens examined  at  the  Department  of  Agriculture  during  the  past 
several  years  have  not  shown  an  objectionable  number  of  defective 
kernels.  Its  known  habits  of  bearing,  together  with  its  resistance 
thus  far  to  fungous  diseases  and  its  excellent  cracking  qualities, 
should  commend  it  to  planters  in  sections  to  which  the  Russell 
variety  is  adapted. 

The  specimens  illustrated  in  Plate  VIII  were  of  the  crop  of  1911 
and  were  grown  by  Mr.  F.  H.  Lewis,  of  Pascagoula,  Miss. 


Y.  B.  Separate  618. 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 


BY 


WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR, 

Chief  of  Bureau, 


AND 


H.  P.  GOULD; 

Pomologist  in  Charge  of  Fruit-Production  Investigations, 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 


[FROM  YEARBOOK  OP  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE  FOR  1913.] 


43038°— 14 1 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  I  1814 


CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Introduction 109 

Banana  apple 110 

McCroskey  apple Ill 

Opalescent  apple 113 

Lizzie  peach 114 

Flowers  grape 117 

James  grape 118 

Triumph  persimmon 119 

Lue  orange 121 

Boone  chestnut 122 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

PLATE  VII.  Banana  apple 114 

VIII.  McCroskey  apple 114 

IX.  Opalescent  apple 114 

X.  Lizzie  peach 114 

XI.  Flowers  and  James  grapes 114 

XII.  Triumph  persimmon 114 

XIII.  Lue  orange 114 

XIV.  Boone  chestnut 114 

in 


PROMISING  NEW  FRUITS. 

By  WILLIAM  A.  TAYLOR,  Chief  of  Bureau,  and  H.  P.  GOULD,  Pomologist  in 
Charge  of  Fruit-Production  Investigations,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry. 

INTRODUCTION. 

THE  conditions  under  which  fruit  is  grown  and  marketed 
are  slowly  though  constantly  changing.  Standards  of 
excellence  in  different  particulars  are  being  raised.  Con- 
sumers are  gradually  acquiring  a  better  knowledge  of  what 
constitutes  good  fruit.  Too  many  varieties  are  poor  in  some 
particular,  though  perhaps  possessing  much  merit  in  all  other 
important  respects.  Practically  no  varieties  are  altogether 
good. 

A  variety  may  be  productive,  an  excellent  shipping  fruit, 
and  attractive  in  appearance,  but  poor  in  flavor;  another 
may  have  every  desirable  quality  except  productiveness;  or 
a  variety  well-nigh  perfect  in  other  respects  is  very  suscepti- 
ble to  some  disease  difficult  to  control.  But  there  is  no  inher- 
ent incompatibility  in  the  various  characteristics  of  fruits  to 
prevent  the  existence  of  the  ideally  perfect  variety  for  a  partic- 
ular purpose — the  one  without  fault  for  its  season  of  ripening. 

Consciously  or  otherwise,  the  search  for  the  ideal  in  fruit 
varieties  goes  on.  Each  year  sees  new  varieties  brought  to 
light  and  introduced  to  the  trade.  A  few  of  these  persist 
and  in  time  become  important  in  the  fruit  industry,  but  the 
great  majority  are  never  widely  known,  because  in  reality 
they  do  not  meet  any  special  need.  A  new  variety  in  order 
to  attain  enduring  importance  in  the  fruit  industry  must 
represent  a  high  standard  of  excellence  in  all  particulars,  and 
in  at  least  one  particular  it  must  surpass  in  some  region  or 
regions  other  sorts  already  in  cultivation.  And  as  a  rule 
its  merits  must  even  then  be  persistently  and  extensively 
advertised;  else  its  dissemination  will  be  very  slow. 

It  is  exceedingly  difficult  for  a  new  variety,  even  of  the 
highest  merit,  to  crowd  out  a  mediocre  variety  that  has  been 
extensively  planted  by  many  fruit  growers.  For  this  reason 
a  variety  may  be  old,  as  measured  by  the  age  of  a  man, 
before  it  becomes  generally  known.  The  Stayman  Winesap 
apple,  for  instance  originated  nearly  half  a  century  ago, 

109 


110 


Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 


and  for  many  years  it  has  been  known  in  several  sections 
among  fruit  growers,  but  it  is  only  during  the  last  12  or  15 
years  that  its  real  value  has  become  widely  appreciated. 

The  fruits  to  which  attention  is  directed  in  this  paper  are 

varieties  which,  though  admittedly  falling  short  of  perfection, 

are  believed  to  possess  valuable  characteristics  which  render 

1  them  worthy  of  the  attention  of  fruit  growers  in  the  districts 

to  which  by  experience  they  may  be  found  to  be  adapted. 

It  should  be  stated  that  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
has  no  stock  of  these  varieties  for  distribution. 

BANANA  APPLE. 

Synonyms:  Flory,  Flory  Banana,  Winter  Banana. 

[PLATE   VII.] 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

About  the  year  1873  or  1874  the  late  David  Flory,  sr., 
planted  at  his  homestead,  which  was  located  5  miles  east  of 
Logansport  and  1  mile  south  of  Adamsboro,  Cass  County, 
Ind.,  50  apple  trees  which  he  had  grown  from  seed  for  the 
purpose  of  having  a  few  stocks  on  which  to  graft  desirable 
varieties.  The  next  year,  when  grafting  the  trees,  he  noticed 
that  one  of  them  showed  a  marked  difference  from  the 
others  in  the  fine,  thrifty  growth  it  had  made.  Mr.  Flory 
was  impressed  with  its  promising  appearance  and  decided 
to  retain  it  until  it  should  bear  fruit.1  Accordingly  the  tree 
was  left  ungrafted.  It  came  into  bearing  quite  young,  pro- 
ducing fruit  which  was  so  pleasing  to  its  owner  that  he 
named  the  apple,  calling  it  "Flory  Banana." 

In  1890  this  variety  was  introduced  to  tthe  trade  by  the 
Greening  Nursery  Co.  under  the  name  " Winter  Banana."2 
This  name  is  reduced  to  Banana  to  bring  it  into  harmony 
with  the  code  of  nomenclature  of  the  American  Pomological 
Society.  The  original  tree  is  still  standing  and  in  fair  con- 
dition; the  branches  on  one  side  are  reported  to  show  some 
decay  as  a  result  of  injudicious  pruning.  It  bore  a  good 
crop  of  apples  in  1913.1 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish  to  roundish  conic,  slightly  angular,  sometimes  slightly 
oblate;  size  large;  cavity  regular,  rather  large,  moderately  deep,  slope 
gradual,  sometimes  slightly  russeted;  stem  medium  in  size  and  length; 

1  Letter  from  D.  M.  Flory,  November,  1913. 

2  Letter  from  the  Greening  Nursery  Co.,  November,  1913. 


22V 

Promising  New  Fruits.  Ill 

basin  regular,  medium  in  size,  variable  in  depth  from  shallow  to  deep, 
depending  upon  the  region  where  grown,  slope  gradual,  slightly  furrowed; 
calyx  segments  medium,  converging;  eye  large,  open  or  partially  closed; 
surface  smooth  with  a. rather  waxen  appearance;  color  greeniph  yellow  with 
blush  of  light  red,  deepening  to  rose  on  exposed  side,  sometimes  covering 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  surface;  dots  on  surface  few,  irregular,  medium 
in  size,  color  brownish,  but  many  whitish  dots  rather  large  in  size  showing 
indistinctly  beneath  the  surface  of  the  skin;  skin  medium  thick,  tenacious, 
bloom  very  slight,  bluish;  flesh  yellowish;  texture  medium  fine,  tender, 
breaking,  moderately  juicy;  core  conical,  clasping,  large,  open;  seeds  plump, 
large,  brown,  numerous;  flavor  mild  subacid,  slightly  aromatic;  quality 
good  to  very  good;  season  winter. 

The  tree  grows  well  in  both  the  nursery  and  the  orchard; 
comes  into  bearing  quite  young;  is  prolific  under  reasonably 
favorable  conditions,  and  hardy — according  to  the  orig- 
inator enduring  winter  conditions  in  1885  which  destroyed 
most  other  varieties.1 

Since  its  introduction  this  variety  has  been  quite  widely 
disseminated,  especially  in  Ohio,  in  Indiana,  in  Michigan, 
and  to  a  limited  extent  in  Iowa.  It  has  been  planted  rather 
extensively  in  some  of  the  apple  districts  of  the  Pacific 
Northwest .  As  a  commercial  variety  it  appears  to  be 
growing  in  popularity  .in  the  northern  and  northwestern 
apple  districts. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  VII  was  grown  in  1913 
by  Mr.  C.  H.  Whittum,  Eaton  Rapids,  Eaton  County,  Mich. 

MCCROSKEY  APPLE. 

[PLATE  VIII.] 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  McCroskey  apple  originated  from  seed  of  either  a 
Winesap  or  a  Limbertwig  apple  which  was  planted  about 
25  years  ago  by  the  late  H.  M.  McCroskey  at  his  place  near 
Glenloch,  about  6  miles  east  of  Sweetwater,  Monroe  County, 
Tenn.  The  exact  year  is  uncertain,  but  the  tree  bore  its 
first  crop  of  fruit  in  1895.2 

The  name  "  McCroskey,"  in  honor  of  the  originator,  was 
suggested  early  in  1896  by  Prof.  R.  L.  Watts,  then  horti- 
culturist of  the  Tennessee  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,3 
and  under  that  name  the  variety  was  described  and  illustrated 

1  Letter  from  the  Greening  Nursery  Co.,  November,  1913. 

2  Letter  from  H.  M.  McCroskey,  July.  1898. 

3  Letter  from  Prof.  Watts,  February,  1896. 


112  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

by  him.1  From  the  resemblance  of  the  fruit  to  the  Winesap 
apple,  it  seems  probable' that  it  is  a  seedling  of  that  well- 
known  sort  rather  than  of  Limbertwig— a  possibility  sug- 
gested by  Mr.  McCroskey,  as  above  stated.  Prof.  Watts 
regarded  it  as  the  most  valuable  new  seedling  winter  apple 
of  Tennessee  origin  that  had  been  brought  to  his  attention, 
its  main  points  of  merit  being  "  productiveness,  vigor  in 
growth,  symmetry  and  beauty  of  fruit,  and  good  quality." '  „ 
According  to  the  originator,  the  fruit  of  this  variety  that  fell 
from  the  tree  kept  better  than  Winesap,  Ben  Davis,  or  Lim- 
bertwig apples  that  were  hand  picked.3  Prof.  Watts  reports 
the  receipt  of  well-preserved  specimens  as  late  as  May  1 . 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  conical;  size  medium;  cavity  regular,  medium  in  size  and  depth, 
elope  abrupt,  with  small  russeted  area  about  stem;  stem  about  one-half 
inch  in  length,  slender;  basin  regular,  medium  in  size  and  depth,  slope 
rather  abrupt,  slightly  furrowed  in  some  specimens,  with  slight  leather 
cracking  about  apex;  calyx  lobes  medium  in  size,  reflexed;  eye  closed  or 
slightly  open;  surface  smooth;  color  greenish  yellow,  entirely  overspread  in 
well-colored  specimens  with  rather  dark  red  and  indistinctly  marked  with 
darker  stripes;  dots  small,  rather  numerous,  not  conspicuous,  yellowish 
white  in  color;  skin  moderately  tough  and  tenacious;  flesh  yellowish;  tex- 
ture moderately  fine  grained,  fairly  juicy;  core  conic,  clasping,  small  to 
medium  in  size,  open;  calyx  tube  small,  funnel  form,  open  nearly  to  core; 
seeds  medium  size,  plump,  reddish  brown,  6  to  8  in  number,  rarely  more; 
flavor  subacid,  rather  rich,  pleasant,  very  good;  season  winter. 

This  apple  has  not  been  widely  disseminated,  but  to  the 
extent  to  which  it  has  been  grown  in  Tennessee  it  appears 
to  be  a  very  promising  sort. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  in  the  present  connection  that 
there  are  a  number  of  seedlings  of  the  Winesap  apple  which 
have  assumed  considerable  commercial  importance.  The 
most  prominent  one  which  is  an  authentic  seedling  of  this 
variety  is  Stayman  Winesap.4  Magnate 5  is  valuable  in  some 
sections.  Arkansas,  Paragon,  Arkansas  Black,  and  Kinnard 
are  other  varieties  disclosing  evidence  of  Winesap  parentage 

i  Apples  of  Tennessee  Origin,  Tennessee  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bulletin,  vol.  9, 
No.  1  (May,  1896),  p.  18. 
a  Tennessee  Experiment  Station  Bulletin,  vol.  9,  No.  1,  p.  19. 

3  Letter  from  Mr.  McCroskey,  July,  1898. 

4  For  illustration  and  description,  see  Yearbook  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1902, 
p.  470. 

6  For  illustration  and  description,  see  Yearbook  XT.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1906, 
p.  355. 


22 

Promising  New  Fruits.  113 

each  of  which  has  gained  considerable  prominence  in  some 
districts.  Moreover,  severaLunnamed  apples  of  evident  value 
reported  to  be  seedlings  of  the  Winesap  and  which  resemble 
it  in  many  respects  have  been  called  to  the  attention  of  this 
department.  It  therefore  seems  probable  that  a  rather  high 
percentage  of  Winesap  seedlings  possess  more  than  the  ordi- 
nary merit.  The  usefulness  of  that  variety  for  breeding  pur- 
poses is  thus  indicated. 

The  specimen  of  McCroskey  apple  illustrated  in  Plate  VIII 
was  grown  in  1912  by  Mr.  L.  C.  H.  Ayres,  of  Midway,  Green 
County,  Tenn. 

OPALESCENT  APPLE. 
Synonyms:  Hudson's  Pride  of  Michigan,  Hastings. 

[PLATE  IX.] 

EARLY   HISTORY. 

The  Opalescent  apple  originated  with  Mr.  George  M. 
Hudson,  Shultz,  Barry  County,  Mich.  The  circumstances 
of  its  origin  as  given  by  him  are  as  follows : l 

A  number  of  years  ago  I  was  digging  out  the  oak  stumps  in  my  orchard 
and  found  a  thick  cluster  of  sprouts  by  the  side  of  one.  I  picked  out  the 
best  sprout  and  set  it  out,  intending  to  top-graft  it,  but  you  will  see  the 
result. 

At  the  same  time,  specimens  of  the  fruit  were  submitted 
to  the  department  by  the  originator  under  the  name  "  Hud- 
son's Pride  of  Michigan/'  with  the  request  that  a  suitable 
name  be  given  to  the  variety.  Accordingly  "Hastings," 
the  township  in  which  the  variety  originated,  was  suggested 
as  an  appropriate  name.  In  due  course  this  was  approved 
by  Mr.  Hudson,  and  the  name  was  published  by  the  Ameri- 
can Pomological  Society.2  But  prior  to  such  publication, 
this  variety  had  been  disseminated  by  the  Dayton  Star 
Nurseries,3  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  under  the  name  " Opalescent."4 
The  original  tree  was  still  standing  and  in  fairly  good  condi- 
tion in  1912.5 

1  Letter  from  Mr.  Hudson,  December,  1896. 

2  Proceedings,  25th  session,  American  Pomological  Society,  1897,  p.  38,  1898. 

3  Letter  from  J.  AV.  McXary,  receiver,  Dayton  Star  Nurseries,  February,  1899. 

4  Historical  and  descriptive  notes  concerning  this  variety  have  been  published  compara- 
tively recently  as  follows:   Varieties  of  fruit  originated  in  Michigan,  Michigan  Agricultural 
Experiment  Station,  Special  Bulletin  44,  p.  18;  New  or  noteworthy  fruits,  New  York  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station,  Bulletin  364,  p.  181. 

6  Letter  from  George  W.  Thomas,  December,  1913. 
43038°— 14 2 


114  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish;  size  large;  cavity  regular,  large,  deep,  slope  gradual  with 
russet  markings;  stem  moderately  long,  slender;  basin  regular,  size  and 
depth  medium,  slope  abrupt,  slightly  furrowed  in  some  specimens,  some- 
times slightly  russeted  and  leather  cracked ;  calyx  segments  small  to  medium, 
converging;  eye  medium,  open  or  partially  open;  surface  smooth;  color 
yellow,  washed  over  nearly  entire  surface  with  mixed  red  and  indistinct 
stripes  and  splashes  of  dark  crimson,  sometimes  an  overspread  of  gray; 
dots  rather  conspicuous,  yellowish,  many  indented;  skin  medium  thick, 
tenacious,  light  bluish  bloom;  flesh  yellowish,  sometimes1  slightly  tinged 
with  red  near  the  skin;  texture  medium  coarse,  tender,  moderately  juicy; 
core  roundish  or  roundish  conic,  clasping,  size  medium,  open;  seeds  plump, 
medium  in  size,  brown,  numerous;  flavor  mild  subacid;  quality  good  to 
very  good;  season  late  fall  and  early  winter. 

The  tree  has  been  reported  to  be  somewhat  subject  to 
blight,  but  otherwise  to  be  healthy  and  vigorous. 

The  Opalescent  apple  is  not  extensively  grown  at  the 
present  time,  but  it  has  been  quite  widely  disseminated  in 
the  northern  apple  districts  since  it  was  introduced  12  or  13 
years  ago.  Because  of  its  attractive  appearance  and  fairly 
good  quality,  together  with  other  desirable  characteristics, 
it  is  worthy  of  being  thoroughly  tested  for  a  late  fall  and 
early  whiter  apple  generally  in  the  northern  apple  regions. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  IX  was  grown  in  1913 
by  the  New  York  Experiment  Station,  Geneva,  Ontario 

County,  N.  Y. 

LIZZIE  PEACH. 

[PLATE  X.] 

EARLY   HISTORY. 

The  history  of  the  Lizzie  peach  is  identical  with  that  of  sev- 
eral promising  varieties  that  have  been  developed  in  recent 
years  with  a  view  to  meeting  a  distinct  need  and  as  the  result 
of  a  well-directed  personal  effort  toward  a  particular  end. 

The  Carman  *  peach,  probably  a  chance  cross  of  the 
Elberta  and  Family  Favorite,  originated  from  a  seed  of 
the  former  variety  that  was  planted  hi  1889  by  Mr.  J.  W. 
Stubenrauch  of  Mexia,  Limestone  County,  Tex.  The  Car- 
man was  the  forerunner  of  a  considerable  number  of  varie- 
ties that  Mr.  Stubenrauch  has  originated  since  that  variety 
appeared.  From  the  first  fruiting  of  the  Carman  in  1892, 
it  gave  promise  of  unusual  value.  This  early  promise  has 

i  For  illustration  and  description,  see  Yearbook  TJ.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1901, 
p.  385. 


Yearbook  U.S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture    1913 


PLATE  VII. 
y 


BANANA  APPLE 


Yearbook  U.  S   Oept   of  Agriculture.    1913 


LATE  VIII. 


M9  CROSKEY  APPLE 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Oept.  of  Agriculture.   1913 


PLATE  IX. 


OPALESCENT  APPLE 


Yearbook  U.S.  Dept   of  Agriculture.   1913 


PLATE   X. 


LIZZIE  PEACH 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept  of  Agriculture.    1913 


PLATE  XI. 


FLOWERS  AND  JAMES  GRAPES 


Yearbook  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.  1913 


-.PLATE  XII. 


TRIUMPH  PERSIMMON 


Yearbook   U.  S.  Dept   of  Agriculture.    1913 


PLATE  XIV. 


BOONE  CHESTNUT 


Promising  New  Fruits. 

been  fulfilled  in  a  marked  degree  as  the  years  since  its 
introduction  have  passed. 

As  Mr.  Stubenrauch  observed  the  behavior  of  the  Car- 
man, he  began  to  consider  means  wiiereby  nature  could  be 
assisted  in  producing  other  varieties  that  would  be  better 
for  his  region.  He  had  previously  planted  quite  heavily  of 
the  Elberta  peach.  Among  the  trees  of  tlu's  variety  he  had 
observed  that  a  particular  one  was  remarkable  in  comparison 
with  the  others  because  of  its  more  thrifty  growth,  its 
greater  productiveness,  and  the  superior  quality  of  the 
fruit.  Having  a  block  of  the  Mamie  Ross  peach  which  was 
isolated  from  other  varieties,  some  of  the  best  trees  of  it 
were  partially  "  budded  over"  with  buds  taken  from  the 
Elberta  tree  just  referred  to.  In  the  same  manner,  selected 
trees  of  the  Bell  October  peach — a  fine,  late,  yellow  free- 
stone variety  of  high  quality,  ripening  with  the  Salway — 
were  top-worked  with  buds  of  the  same  Elberta  tree  that 
was  used  in  budding  the  Mamie  Ross  trees. 

As  the  Elberta  buds  top-w^orked  into  the  Mamie  Ross  and 
Bell  October  trees  grew  and  came  into  fruiting,  the  plan 
followed  was  to  select  the  best  specimens  of  fruit  on  the 
Elberta  limbs  as  they  ripened  and  to  save  the  seeds  from  them, 
care  being  taken  to  keep  those  from  the  Mamie  Ross  trees 
separate  from  those  borne  on  the  Bell  October  trees.  These 
were  planted  the  following  whiter,  which  was  that  of  1901-2. 
The  trees  which  came  from  these  seeds  made  an  excellent 
growth  the  next  season  and  were  transplanted  from  the 
nursery  into  orchard  rows. 

All  of  these  trees  which  did  not  begin  bearing  earlier  came 
into  fruiting  the  third  and  fourth  years  from  the  planting  of 
the  seeds.  They  were  systematically  studied  by  Mr.  Stu- 
benrauch, and  at  the  end  of  the  fifth  season  a  considerable 
number  were  discarded  and  dug  up,  as  they  gave  no  promise 
of  value.  Selections  continued  to  be  made  for  several  years, 
or  until  it  became  possible  to  choose  from  the  collection  a 
series  of  varieties  of  merit  that  produce  fruit  continually  in 
the  region  of  their  origin  from  about  July  15  to  October  1,  or 
a  period  of  approximately  two  and  one-half  months. 

The  varieties  which  constitute  this  series  have  a  firm  flesh 
and  stand  shipping  remarkably  well.  One  of  the  aims  of 
the  originator  has  been  to  secure  varieties  that  could  be 
shipped  successfully  for  a  distance  of  150  to  200  miles  by  fast 


116  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

freight  or  express  without  the  use  of  ice,  thus  making  it 
possible  readily  to  supply  the  smaller  markets  located  com- 
paratively near  points  of  production,  which  are  frequently 
without  peaches,  while  the  larger  and  more  central  markets 
are  often  glutted.  Moreover,  the  most  of  these  varieties 
appear  to  be  especially  hardy  while  in  blossom.  They  are 
reported  to  have  borne  a  good  crop  of  fruit  in  a  number  of 
seasons  when  several  degrees  of  frost  occurred  during  the 
blossoming  period  and  completely  destroyed  the  blossoms  of 
most  of  the  standard  sorts.  In  general,  the  trees  are  thrifty. 
The  fruit  is  as  large  as  or  larger  than  the  Elberta  when  grown 
under  the  same  conditions  and  of  good  dessert  quality  in 
favorable  seasons.  Names  have  been  given  during  the  last 
two  or  three  years  to  the  more  important  selections  made  by 
Mr.  Stubenrauch.  These  include  the  Lizzie,  which  has  been 
chosen  from  among  this  collection  of  varieties  for  illustration 
and  description  in  the  present  connection.  It  originated 
from  one  of  the  seeds  selected  from  an  Elberta  limb  on  a  Bell 
October  tree,  and  accordingly  it  may  be  a  natural  cross 
between  these  varieties.  Its  characteristics  give  considerable 
weight  to  this  supposition.1 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  globular  to  obovate,  sides  sometimes  unequal;  size  medium  to  large; 
cavity  regular,  medium,  rather  deep,  slope  abrupt;  suture  shallow  except 
at  cavity,  extending  beyond  the  apex;  apex  a  small  tip;  surface  slightly 
irregular;  color  rich  yellow  with  light  reddish  blush  tending  to  stripe  on 
exposed  side;  down  very  short  and  sparse;  skin  moderately  thick  and 
tough;  flesh  rich  yellow,  red  at  pit;  texture  firm,  meaty,  moderately  juicy; 
stone  broad,  obovate,  pointed  at  tip,  free,  large;  flavor  rich,  vinous,  nearly 
sweet;  quality  good  to  very  good;  season  latter  part  of  August  or  about  two 
weeks  after  Elberta  at  place  of  origin. 

The  tree  makes  a  good,  thrifty  growth  and  is  reported  to 
be  intermediate  in  habit  between  the  Elberta  and  the  Beil 
October.  It  is  productive,  usually  requiring  heavy  thinning 
in  favorable  seasons.  The  leaf  glands  are  slightly  reniform, 
many  nearly  globose.  The  fruit  is  reported  to  be  quite  highly 
resistant  to  brown-rot.  The  variety  is  considered  worthy  of 
being  extensively  tested,  especially  in  the  peach-growing  dis- 
tricts of  the  Southern  and  Southwestern  States. 

The  specimen  shown  in  Plate  X  was  grown  in  1913  by  Mr. 
J.  W.  Stubenrauch,  of  Mexia,  Limestone  County,  Tex. 

1  Information  supplied  by  Mr.  Stubenrauch  in  various  communications  to  this  department. 


Promising  New  Fruits.  117 

FLOWERS  GRAPE. 

[PLATE  XI-] 

That  the  fruit  industry  of  the  United  States  has  been  built 
up  largely  with  fruits  which  represent  introduced  species  is  a 
fact  which  presents  itself  at  times  with  almost  startling  force 
and  significance.  This,  however,  is  less  true  of  grapes  than 
of  the  other  important  fruits. 

While  the  Vinifera  grape  industry  represents  an  invest- 
ment of  many  millions  of  dollars,  the  cultivation  of  this  class 
of  grapes  is  largely  restricted  to  the  territory  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  including  California.  The  grapes  which 
are  extensively  grown  elsewhere  throughout  the  country, 
with  few  exceptions,  belong  to  native  species  of  Yitis.  The 
Muscadine  grapes,  which  include  the  native  species  Vitis 
rotundifolia  and  Vitis  munsoniana,  are  becoming  increas- 
ingly important  in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  Coast  States. 

In  view  of  the  present  interest  in  the  culture  of  these  grapes 
in  many  parts  of  the  region  to  which  they  are  adapted,  and 
the  systematic  attention  that  is  now  being  given  to  the  inves- 
tigation of  them  and  the  breeding  of  more  desirable  varie- 
ties, it  may  be  expected  that  the  culture  of  these  grapes  will 
eventually  contribute  very  materially  to  the  horticultural 
development  of  the  South. 

Unlike  most  other  fruits,  the  Muscadine  grape  has  thus 
far  developed  but  few  important  varieties;  in  fact,  a  single 
variety,  the  Scuppernong,  is  of  such  great  importance  in 
comparison  with  the  others  that  it  might  almost  be  referred  to 
as  constituting  the  commercial  Muscadine  industry.  There 
are,  however,  at  least  six  varieties  of  considerable  importance, 
with  a  still  larger  number  that  have  been  named  and  more 
or  less  disseminated,  but  which  thus  far  are  chiefly  of  local 
value. 

The  two  varieties  shown  in  Plate  XI  are  among  the  six 
most  important  sorts. 

EARLY   HISTORY.1 

The  original  vine  of  the  Flowers  grape  was  discovered  in 
1819  by  " Popping  Billy'7  Flowers,  growing  in  a  swamp  15 
miles  south  of  Lumberton,  Robeson  County,  N.  C.,  and  was 

i  History  and  description  condensed  from  notes  published  by  George  C.  Husmann  and 
Charles  Bearing,  The  Muscadine  Grapes,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Bulletin  No.  273. 


_ 

118  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

transplanted  by  him  to  a  location  a  few  hundred  yards  dis- 
tant. It  has  since  been  grown  quite  extensively  for  home 
use  in  the  region  of  its  origin.  It  is  the  oldest  named  black 
variety  of  Vitis  rotundifolia  in  cultivation. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Cluster  nearly  round,  fairly  compact;  large  for  the  species,  composed 
generally  of  6  to  10  berries;  berries  slightly  oval,  medium  size,  purplish 
black;  dots  only  faintly  visible;  skin  very  thick  and  tough;  flesh  whitish, 
meaty,  tough,  not  very  juicy;  seeds  usually  3  to  4,  more  angular  than  other 
varieties  and  adhering  tenaciously  to  the  pulp;  flavor  sweetish,  lacking  in 
sprightliness;  quality  medium;  season  late,  from  about  October  15  until 
destroyed  by  frost. 

The  vine  has  an  upright,  slender  growth  and  is  more  open 
and  hardly  as  vigorous  as  other  varieties  of  the  same  species. 
The  leaves  are  thick,  rather  dark  green  in  color,  leathery, 
cordate,  with  sharp-pointed  tip  and  sharply  serrated  margin. 

The  distinguishing  characteristics  of  the  Flowers  are  its 
tendency  to  bunch,  coarseness  and  meatiness  of  flesh,  thick- 
ness of  skin,  late  season  of  ripening,  good  shipping  qualities 
due  to  strong  adherence  of  berries  to  peduncles,  and  pro- 
ductiveness. In  these  respects  this  variety  is  well  distin- 
tinguished  from  other  sorts.  It  is  used  mostly  for  making 
wine,  though  the  product  is  not  considered  as  good  as  that 
from  the  other  important  Muscadine  varieties. 

It  appears  to  be  especially  well  adapted  to  sandy-loam 
soils  having  a  relatively  high  elevation,  and  it  is  reported  to  do 
well  in  such  locations  from  North  Carolina  southward  as  far 
as  the  Florida  Keys. 

The  cluster  illustrated  in  Plate  XI  was  grown  in  1910  at 
the  Fender  Test  Farm  of  the  North  Carolina  Department  of 
Agriculture,  Willard,  Fender  County,  N.  C. 

JAMES  GRAPE.1 

[PLATE  XI.] 

EARLY   HISTORY. 

The  first  vine  of  the  James  variety  was  found  growing, 
about  1866  or  1867,  by  Mr.  B.  M.  W.  James,  near  Grindool 
Creek,  a  short  distance  from  the  post  office  then  known  as 
Grindool,  Fitt  County,  N.  C.,  but  now  called  Whitehurst, 
about  3  miles  south  of  Parmele. 

i  History  and  description  condensed  from  notes  published  by  George  C.  Husmann  and 
Charles  Bearing,  The  Muscadine  Grapes,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Bulletin  No.  273. 


Promising  New  Fruits.  119 

When  discovered,  the  vine  was  only  a  few  inches  long, 
but  it  bore  a  cluster  of  grapes  composed  of  9  or  10  berries 
which  were  unusually  large  and  which  remained  on  the 
vine  in  good  condition  for  a  long  time.  These  characteris- 
tics attracted  Mr.  James's  attention,  and  he  transplanted  it 
to  his  home  grounds,  a  shor£  distance  away.  This  vine  is 
still  growing  and  covers  an  arbor  about  20  feet  in  diameter. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Cluster  nearly  round,  fairly  compact;  large  for  the  species,  but  because  of 
the  size  of  the  berries  rather  than  their  number;  berries  usually  4  to  6  to  the 
cluster,  but  ranging  from  2  to  12  or  even  more,  round,  large,  rather  glossy, 
bluish  or  deep  purplish  black  when  fully  ripe,  with  few  but  conspicuous 
" guinea-egg"  specks.  Before  reaching  full  maturity  there  is  a  character- 
istic reddish  coloring  about  the  peduncle;  flesh  firm,  meaty,  juicy;  skin 
thick,  rather  tough;  seeds  typical  of  the  species,  but  larger  than  those  of 
other  leading  varieties,  adhering  rather  strongly  to  pulp;  flavor  sweetish 
but  rather  flat,  berries  ripening  in  the  shade  being  much  better  than  those 
which  ripen  in  the  sun;  quality  medium;  season  about  October  1. 

The  vine  is  vigorous  and  productive,  and  it  readily  adapts 
itself  to  systematic  training  on  upright  forms  of  trellises. 
The  leaf  is  cordate  in  form  with  serrate  margin.  In  late 
summer  a  portion  of  the  space  between  the  prominent  veins 
turns  yellow  some  time  before  the  portions  immediately 
bordering  them  lose  their  green  color,  thus  producing  an 
effect  which  is  quite  characteristic  of  the  variety. 

The  James  is  not  much  grown  outside  of  North  Carolina, 
though  it  appears  to  do  well  as  far  south  as  Florida. 

The  attractive  appearance  of  the  fruit,  its  juiciness,  fair 
quality,  and  good  adherence  to  the  peduncle  combine  to 
make  the  James  one  of  the  best  Rotundifolia  varieties  for 
general  purposes  in  the  regions  to  which  it  is  adapted. 

The  cluster  illustrated  in  Plate  XI  was  grown  in  1910  at 
the  Fender  Test  Farm,  Willard,  Fender  County,  N.  C. 

TRIUMPH  PERSIMMON. 

[PLATE   XII.] 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

In  the  late  seventies  or  early  eighties  the  late  Gen.  H.  S. 
Sanford  procured  some  imported  Japanese  persimmon  trees 
for  planting  at  his  place  near  Sanford,  Fla.  The  budded  or 
grafted  top  of  one  of  these  trees  proved  to  be  dead,  but  the 
stock  below  the  point  of  union  was  alive.  It  was  rejected 


120  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

by  the  owner,  but  carried  home  and  planted  by  one  of  his 
employees,  a  Mr.  Ludbury.  In  due  course  a  sprout  grew 
from  the  roots,  and  from  it  a  tree  was  budded  for  Mr.  H.  L. 
DeForest.  The  original  tree  died  shortly  after  this,  but 
apparently  the  one  propagated  for  Mr.  DeForest  lived  and 
became  the  source  from  which  the  variety,  now  much  grown 
in  some  parts  of  Florida,  was  propagated. 

Very  early  in  the  history  of  the  variety,  following  the  suc- 
cessful growing  of  the  tree  on  Mr.  DeForest's  place,  about  15 
wilding  trees,  which  came  up  in  the  orange  grove  on  the 
homestead  of  Mrs.  O.  Kennedy,  were  budded  to  this  variety. 
This  place  was  located  a  short  distance  north  of  Sorrento 
and  about  1 1  miles  east  of  Eustis,  Fla. 

This  variety  was  first  commercially  propagated  some  time 
prior  to  1887  by  the  late  G.  H.  Norton,  then  the  proprietor 
of  a  nursery  at  Eustis,  and  by  him  it  was  named  "Triumph." 

It  is  reported  that  in  1887  Mr.  DeForest  shipped  5  boxes 
of  this  variety  to  Boston,  where  they  sold  for  $5  per  box.1 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  distinctly  oblate,  in  cross-section  indistinctly  quadrangular;  size 
email  to  medium;  cavity  regular,  large,  medium  depth,  slope  very  gradual; 
stem  short,  about  one-half  inch,  slender;  apex  a  small  point  set  in  a  very 
small,  shallow  basin  which  is  surrounded,  in  some  specimens  at  least,  by  an 
indistinct  quadrangular  shield  of  gray;  calyx  large,  4  lobed,  reflexed;  sur- 
face smooth  except  for  rather  indistinct  sutures  which  divide  the  fruit  into 
quarters,  the  suture  lines  in  many  specimens  encircling  or  nearly  encircling 
the  fruit  and  radiating  from  the  corners  of  the  4-parted  calyx;  color  bright 
yellowish  red  to  dark  orange  red,  depending *upon  stage  of  maturity;  dots 
numerous,  very  minute,  appearing  indistinctly  beneath  the  skin,  hardly 
visible  in  some  specimens;  skin  very  thin,  tender;  bloom  very  light,  whit- 
ish; flesh  yellowish  red  at  outer  edge,  losing  yellowish  shade  as  fruit  softens, 
with  numerous  yellowish  fibers  through  the  flesh,  these  becoming  indistinct 
as  the  fruit  softens,  translucent;  texture  buttery,  tender,  moderately  juicy; 
core  oblong,  cylindrical,  medium  in  size,  closed;  seeds  very  variable,  many 
specimens  seedless,  sometimes  5  to  8  in  number,  plump  or  consisting  merely 
of  the" unfilled  integument,  small  to  medium  in  size,  rich  brown  in  color, 
condition  and  number  of  seeds  probably  determined  by  extent  of  fertiliza- 
tion; flavor  rich,  sweet,  somewhat  astringent  before  ripening,  but  losing 
astringency  upon  softening;  quality  very  good.  Season  in  vicinity  of  Glen 
St.  Mary  usually  begins  in  September  and  continues  until  toward  the  last 
of  No\  ember,  but  the  bulk  of  the  fruit  ripens  the  last  week  in  October  and 
the  first  half  of  November;  when  the  weather  is  not  too  cold  some  specimens 
may  hang  on  the  trees  until  nearly  Christmas. 

V Letter  from  G.  H.  Norton,  October,  1887. 


23V 

Promising  New  Fruits.  121 

The  tree  presents  a  very  attractive  appearance  and  holds 
its  leaves  later  than  most  varieties  of  the  Japanese  type. 
Its  growth  even  in  the  nursery  row  is  very  characteristic, 
and  it  is  one  of  the  few  varieties  that  can  readily  be  distin- 
guished from  the  trees  of  other  sorts.  This  is  by  reason  of 
its  peculiar  bark  and  the  pink  color  of  the  petioles  when  the 
leaves  are  young.1  Some  of  the  trees  on  the  Kennedy  home- 
stead at  4  years  of  age  were  estimated  to  bear  1,500  fruits.2 
Heavy  bearing  has  continuously  characterized  the  variety. 
It  is  a  variety  highly  prized,  especially  for  home  use. 
Almost  every  landowner  in  the  vicinity  of  Eustis  has  from 
one  to  a  dozen  trees  of  it.3  The  skin  is  so  thin  and  tender 
that  it  may  be  less  desirable  for  shipping,  except  when 
marketed  in  a  rather  immature  state. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XII  was  grown  in  1913 
by  the  Glen  St.  Mary  Nurseries  Co.,  Glen  St.  Mary,  Baker 

County,  Fla. 

LUE  ORANGE. 

.  Synonym:  Lue  Gim  Gong. 

[PLATE   Xm.J 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  history  of  the  Lue  orange  as  published  by  the  Ameri- 
can Pomological  Society4  is  substantially  as  follows: 

In  1888,  Mr.  Lue  Gim  Gong,  of  De  Land,  Fla.,  pollinated  the  Hart  (Hart's 
Late)  with  pollen  of  what  was  believed  to  be  a  Mediterranean  ( Mediterranean 
Sweet)  orange.  A  single  fruit  containing  15  to  18  seeds  resulted  from  this 
effort.  From  these  seeds  about  12  trees  were  grown,  no  two  of  which  proved 
to  be  alike.  One  tree,  when  it  came  into  bearing,  produced  fruit  which 
appeared  to  be  so  superior  to  the  Hart,  which  is  the  standard  late  orange 
in  Florida,  that  Mr.  Lue  budded  one  side  of  each  of  45  trees  to  it.  Buds  of 
the  Hart  (Hart's  Late)  orange  were  put  into  the  other  side  of  15  of  these 
trees,  while  several  different  sorts  were  budded  into  the  other  side  of  the 
remaining  trees. 

This  variety  was  introduced  to  the  trade  in  1912  by  the 
Glen  St.  Mary  Nurseries  Co.,  under  the  name  "Lue  Gim 
Gong"  in  honor  to  the  originator.  This  name  is  reduced 
to  Lue  in  conformity  with  the  code  of  nomenclature  of  the 
American  Pomological  Society. 

1  Letter  from  H.  Harold  Hume,  November,  1913. 
»  Letter  from  G.  H.  Norton,  October,  1887. 

3  Letter  from  Frank  W.  Savage,  December,  1913. 

4  Proceedings,  American  Pomological  Society,  1911,  p.  172. 


122  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

g  9  p 

DESCRIPTION. 

Form  roundish;  large;  cavity  very  small,  shallow,  somewhat  furrowed; 
stem  slender;  apex  a  small  tip  in  a  very  shallow  basin;  surface  slightly 
undulating  with  indented  dots;  color  rich  orange  yellow;  oil  cells  numer- 
ous; rind  relatively  smooth,  adherence  medium,  rather  thin  and  tender; 
segments  10  to  12,  fairly  regular  in  size;  flesh  pale  orange,  tender;  cells 
large,  iiregular,  enveloping  tissue  thin;  core  nearly  solid,  filled  with  white 
pith;  juice  translucent,  abundant;  saeds  plump,  medium  in  size,  straw 
color,  few  in  number;  flavor  slightly  subacid,  pleasant;  quality  very  good; 
season  begins  in  July,  but  is  mainly  during  August  and  September  in 
Florida. 

The  tree  is  said  to  be  hardier  than  most  standard  varieties. 
It  makes  a  thrifty  growth  and  is  very  productive.  The 
fruit  is  said  to  hang  to  the  tree  well  during  the  rainy  season 
in  Florida,  which  usually  begins  in  June  and  lasts  several 
weeks.  The  fruit  ripens  during  a  period  when  about  the 
only  oranges  in  the  market  are  Valencias  from  California. 
It  is  remarkably  heavy,  does  not  lose  moisture  rapidly,  and 
possesses  excellent  shipping  and  keeping  qualities. 

Its  early  promise  of  exceptional  value  has  been  fully  real- 
ized as  the  older  trees  have  come  into  bearing.  It  is  consid- 
ered of  special  importance  as  a  late  variety  in  the  orange  dis- 
tricts of  Florida  and  worthy  of  careful  test  in  other  orange 
districts. 

The  specimen  illustrated  in  Plate  XIII  was  supplied  in 
1911  by  the  Glen  St.  Mary  Nurseries  Co.,  Glen  St.  Mary, 
Baker  County,  Fla. 

BOONE   CHESTNUT. 

Synonym:  Daniel  Boone. 

[PLATE  XIV.] 

EARLY   HISTORY. 

The  Boone  chestnut  originated  with  the  late  George  W. 
Endicott,  of  Villa  Kidge,  Pulaski  County,  111.,  and  is  a  seedling 
of  the  Giant  (Japan  Giant)  pollinated  with  an  American 
chestnut.  According  to  the  originator,  it  took  him  seven 
years  to  find  a  tree  of  the  latter  which  blossomed  early 
enough  to  furnish  pollen  with  which  to  pollinate  the  Giant. 
After  finding  one,  he  pollinated  20  blossoms  of  the  Japanese 
variety  in  1895.  From  this  work  he  obtained  14  nuts. 
These  were  stored  in  moist  sand  during  the  following  winter, 
and  on  April  1,  1896,  they  were  planted. 


Promising  New  Fruits.  123 

All  germinated,  but  with  the  exception  of  two  trees  they 
made  a  feeble  growth  and  gave  promise  of  no  value.  The 
two  more  vigorous  trees  made  a  growth  of  about  3£  feet 
during  the  first  season.  One  of  these — the  variety  now 
under  consideration — ripened  six  burs  of  nuts  early  in  Sep- 
tember of  the  following  year;  that  is,  the  second  year  from 
seed.1  The  name  by  which  the  variety  is  known  was  applied 
by  Mr.  Endicott  in  1902  after  he  became  impressed  with  its 
value  and  was  given  in  memory  of  that  early  American 
pioneer,  Daniel  Boone.  He  began  propagating  it  about  the 
same  time  for  his  own  use,  but  it  was  introduced  to  the  trade 
by  Mr.  E.  A.  Kiehl,  of  Alton, '  Madison  County,  111.  The 
name,  appearing  as  " Daniel  Boone,"  was  published  first  in 
the  Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Horticultural  Society 
for  1906.2 

DESCRIPTION. 

Burs  large,  color  rather  dark  green;  spines  short,  stiff,  dense,  several 
times  branched  on  peduncles  one-eighth  to  one-fourth  inch  long;  nuts 
large,  55  to  62  per  pound  when  fresh ;  usually  1  to  4  nuts  to  the  bur,  occasion- 
ally as  many  as  6 ;  color  rich  brown,  pubescent  only  at  tip ;  shell  of  medium 
thickness;  inner  husk  rather  thick,  quite  pubescent;  flavor  sweet;  quality 
good  to  very  good,  comparing  favorably  with  the  best  of  the  Japanese 
varieties;  season  about  September. 

The  tree  is  thrifty  and  vigorous,  with  a  symmetrical, 
roundish  head.  In  August,  1913,  the  original  tree  measured 
38  inches  in  circumference  at  breast  height  and  was  esti- 
mated to  have  a  height  of  25  feet  and  a  spread  of  limb  of 
more  than  30  feet.  The  foliage  is  dense  and  rich  green  in 
color;  the  leaflets  average  about  6  inches  in  length  and  are 
deeply  serrated.  The  tree  usually  blossoms  about  June  5 
and  matures  its  crop  before  September  20,  about  30  days 
earlier  than  the  native  American  chestnuts  growing  in  the 
same  locality. 

This  variety  is  apparently  strongly  self-fertile  and  in  this 
respect  is  unlike  most  chestnut  trees.  For  the  first  three  or 
four  years  after  it  came  into  bearing  and  while  it  was  some- 
what isolated  from  other  trees,  seedlings  of  it  which  were 
grown  by  Mr.  Endicott  came  nearly  "true  to  the  variety/' 
but  later  other  trees  standing  near  it  began  to  blossom ;  fol- 
lowing this  the  seedlings  of  Boone  varied  greatly. 

1  Letters  from  George  W.  Endicott,  October  and  November,  1913. 

2  Transactions  of  the  Illinois  State  Horticultural  Society  for  the  year  1906,  vol.  40  (1906), 
p.  219. 


124  Yearbook  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

The  early  bearing  of  the  original  Boone  tree  has  been 
mentioned.  It  has  continued  to  bear  with  remarkable  con- 
stancy and  regularity.  With  only  one  important  exception, 
which  was  in  1910  when  injured  by  a  very  late  frost,  the 
crop  has  been  larger  each  year  than  it  was  in  the  preceding 
one.  The  bearing  record  of  this  tree  as  furnished  by  Mr. 
Endicott *  is  as  follows: 

Bearing  record  of  the  original  Boone  chestnut  tree  at  Villa  Ridge,  III. 


| 

T3 

1 

•3 

| 

-d 

ft 

s 

ft 

§ 

8 

9 

ft 

§ 

ft 

§ 

ft 

§ 

* 

Pn 

^ 

PH 

H 

£ 

>< 

PH 

!* 

fe 

JH 

£ 

1897 

i  6 

1900 

5 

1903 

12 

1906 

31 

1909 

56 

1912 

78 

1898 

1 

1901 

6 

1904 

17 

1907 

43 

1910 

25 

1913 

140 

1899 

3 

1902 

8 

1905 

23 

1908 

50 

1911 

80 

1  Burs. 


2  Frost  in  June. 


The  crop  of  1913  was  sold  at  30  cents  per  pound,  giving  a 
gross  return  for  the  one  tree  of  $42.  But,  obviously,  such  a 
large  return  is  exceptional  and  not  a  safe  basis  for  estimates, 
of  "  aver  age  returns"  for  entire  orchards. 

The  bur  of  nuts  illustrated  in  Plate  XIV  was  grown  &e 
1913  by  the  late  George  W.  Endicott,  Villa  Ridge,  Pulaski 
County,  111. 

i  Letter  from  Mr.  Endicott,  October,  1913. 


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